Mutuel Field, Proud Spell, Country Star vie for favoritism in opening day of Pool 3

Stonerside Stable’s Country Star, winner of the Darley Alcibiades (GI) and Hollywood Starlet (GI) as a 2-year-old; Brereton C. Jones’s Fair Grounds Oaks (GII) winner Proud Spell; and the mutuel field – or “all others” – were the fans’ top choices after the opening day of betting in Pool 3 of Churchill Downs’ 2008 Kentucky Oaks Future Wager.

The “mutuel field,” the wagering interest which includes all 3-year-old fillies other than the 23 individual horses in Pool 3, and the Bobby Frankel-trained Country Star, one of the favorites in Saturday’s $500,000 Ashland Stakes (GI) at Keeneland, stood as the 6-1 co-favorites following the first of four days of betting in the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager pool.  “All others” was the actual favorite as slightly more money had been wagered on that betting interest.  Close behind in the wide open Kentucky Oaks Future Pool were Honeybee Stakes (GIII) winner Eight Belles (8-1) and Golden Rod (GII) winner Pure Clan (8-1).

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 Friday, April 4.  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 in Pool 2.  A total of $3,176 was wagered during the first day of Pool 3 of the Kentucky Oaks Future bet.

Two major races figure to have a significant impact on the odds in Pool 3 before wagering concludes on Sunday evening.  Saturday’s Ashland at Keeneland attracted a field of seven 3-year-old fillies in which all but one are wagering interests in Pool 3.  Sunday’s $250,000 Fantasy (GII) at Oaklawn Park is expected to feature at least three fillies listed as wagering interests in Pool 3.\

KOFW Pool 3-Day 1