Pure Clan Jumps To Favoritism Midway Through Pool 2

The favorite at the midway point of Pool 2 of Churchill Downs’ 2008 Kentucky Oaks Future Wager is an unbeaten filly – but not the horse that was expected to be the fan’s early choice to win the 134th running of the $500,000-added Kentucky Oaks (Grade I) on May 2 at Churchill Downs.

Hal and Patti Earnhardt’s unbeaten 2-year-old filly champion Indian Blessing was the morning line favorite to be the Pool 2 favorite and the fan’s choice after Thursday’s opening session of betting in the four-day pool. But it was IEAH Stable and Lewis Lakin’s undefeated Pure Clan, winner of the Golden Rod (GII) and Pocahontas (GIII) last fall at Churchill Downs, who stood atop the roster of 23 wagering interests in the second of three 2008 pools in the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager. Pure Clan, a 12-1 risk after the opening day of betting, stood as the 5-2 favorite when day two wagering closed on Friday evening. Indian Blessing, a 3-1 favorite after Thursday’s opening session of betting, saw her price rise to 5-1 as the four-day pool reached its midway point.

The Kentucky Oaks Future Wager is a minimum $2 wager and a win bet only. It offers fans the opportunity to bet on contenders for the $500,000-added Kentucky Oaks (GI) at odds that could be greater than those they would receive on the day of the race. There are no refunds in the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager. Betting on Pool 2 of the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager is scheduled to resume at noon (all times Eastern) on Saturday, March 8. The pool will close at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 9 – 30 minutes after the conclusion of betting in the companion Kentucky Derby Future Wager. Winning payouts will be based on odds that are in place at the conclusion of wagering.

The roster of wagering interests in Pool 2 was reduced to 23 when wagering was suspended on Friday on Stonerside Stable’s Tizaqueena (#22). Trainer Michael Stidham told Churchill Downs officials that the daughter of Tiznow was out of training and would miss the Kentucky Oaks. Tizaqueena was a 99-1 risk when wagering was suspended.

Other fillies that attracted solid support during the first day of Pool 2 betting included Darley Aclibiades (GI) and Hollywood Starlet (GI) winner Country Star at 8-1; Eight Belles, winner of a division of Oaklawn’s Martha Washington, at 10-1; and Davona Dale (GII) winner Bsharpsonata at 11-1.

Real time odds on Pool 2 of the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager are available on the official Kentucky Oaks Web site at www.kentuckyoaks.com. The wager’s third and final pool is set for April 3-6.

Day 2 Final (Pool 2)