Life Is Good remains 7-1 individual favorite in KDFW Pool 3; ‘All Others’ 3-1

As in the first two pools of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW), Life Is Good retained his spot as the individual favorite, and Essential Quality held second, when Pool 3 concluded Sunday evening. The “All Others” option continued to be the most popular overall – but at a higher 3-1, compared to 6-5 in Pool 1 over Thanksgiving weekend and 9-5 in Pool 2 (Jan. 22-24).

Bob Baffert’s Life Is Good closed at 7-1 in Pool 3, the same as in Pool 2, and a tad more than his 5-1 rush in Pool 1. The undefeated Sham (G3) winner is slated for the Mar. 6 San Felipe (G2) at Santa Anita, right in the midst of the KDFW Pool 4. Life Is Good continues to follow the same program as Horse of the Year Authentic, also an Into Mischief colt, who gave Baffert his record-tying sixth Kentucky Derby trophy in 2020.

Fellow unbeaten Essential Quality, voted champion two-year-old male after his Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) victory, has been remarkably consistent in the KDFW. The Brad Cox trainee was the 8-1 second individual choice in Pool 3, replicating his price and ranking from both Pools 1 and 2. Essential Quality makes his sophomore debut in the Southwest (G3), postponed to next Sunday due to adverse winter weather at Oaklawn Park.

The main market mover was Greatest Honour, a 40-1 shot in Pool 2, whose stellar performance in the Jan. 30 Holy Bull (G3) propelled him to 9-1 in Pool 3. The Shug McGaughey pupil attracted significant attention from a 15-1 morning line.

Prevalence, a smashing debut winner at Gulfstream Jan. 23, was added as an individual interest to Pool 3. Pegged at 20-1 on the morning line, the Brendan Walsh sophomore was trimmed to 14-1.

Smarty Jones romper Caddo River closed at 15-1, inching up from his 12-1 morning line (and 13-1 odds in Pool 2). Conversely, his Cox stablemate Mandaloun gained support thanks to his new career high in Saturday’s Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds, and his 30-1 morning line was nearly halved to 16-1 by closing time. Mandaloun had been 42-1 in Pool 2, following his slightly deflating third in the Jan. 16 Lecomte (G3).

Another Baffert, Concert Tour, added to his resume between pools when getting up in the Feb. 6 San Vicente (G2). But it didn’t move the proverbial needle much, as he was 16-1 in Pool 2 and 17-1 (from a 20-1 morning line) in Pool 3.

Confirmation that Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) hero Fire at Will would indeed tackle the Feb. 27 Fountain of Youth (G2) had an impact on his Pool 3 price, contracting from a 50-1 morning line to 30-1. The Mike Maker charge had closed at 30-1 in Pool 1 but drifted to 45-1 in Pool 2.

Handle for Pool 3 totaled $388,987 ($278,397 in the Win pool and $110,590 in Exactas). More details, including will-pays and exacta probables, are available on the Future Wager page on kentuckyderby.com.

Pool 4 is scheduled for Mar. 5-7, running alongside the one Kentucky Oaks Future Wager, and the final KDFW Pool 5 is set for Mar. 26-28.