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Juddmonte's Empire Maker A Strong Favorite In Final Pool Of 2003 Kentucky Derby Future Wager
By: John Asher

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (April 6, 2003) - Juddmonte Farm's Empire Maker, winner of the Florida Derby (Grade I) and the favorite for next week's Wood Memorial (GI) at Aqueduct, remained a strong favorite to win the 129th Kentucky Derby (GI) as wagering in the third and final pool of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager ("KDFW") drew to a close on Sunday evening.

The Bobby Frankel-trained son of 1990 Kentucky Derby winner Unbridled was the 5-2 choice when wagering on KDFW Pool 3 closed at 6:30 p.m. (EDT) on Sunday, April 6 at racetracks and wagering outlets in 34 states. A total of $222,261 was wagered during the four-day pool and $52,506 of that total was wagered on Empire Maker.

The final Pool 3 odds made Empire Maker one of the strongest favorites in the five-year history of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager. Fusaichi Pegasus, who would go on to win the 2000 Kentucky Derby, set the record for lowest odds in a single pool when he closed as the 2-1 favorite in that year's third and final KDFW pool.

After Empire Maker, Kentucky Derby fans had a difficult time in making up their mind on which horses to support and the mutuel field, which included all 3-year-olds other than the 22 individual horses in Pool 3, ended up as the 7-1 second choice. Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Badge of Silver, the winner of the Risen Star (GIII) who runs next week in the Toyota Blue Grass (GI) at Keeneland, was the third choice at 9-1. Edmund Gann's Peace Rules, winner of the Louisiana Derby, closed at 12-1. Buddy Gil, the winner of the Santa Anita Derby (GI), and Atswhatimtalknbout, fourth as the favorite in the same race, closed at 13-1. Illinois Derby (GII) winner Ten Most Wanted saw his final odds drop to 17-1.

The Kentucky Derby Future Wager allows racing fans to place wagers on contenders for the Kentucky Derby weeks in advance of the race at odds that may be more attractive than those they would receive on Derby Day. The Kentucky Derby Future Wager is a $2 minimum wager and is a win bet only. There are 24 wagering interests in each pool, which include 23 individual horses and a mutuel field that contains all other 3-year-old Thoroughbreds - regardless of whether those horses have been nominated to the Kentucky Derby and the Visa Triple Crown. There are no refunds in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager.

The wagering interests in KDFW Pool 3 were reduced to 23 when betting was suspended on Einar Robsham's Trust N Luck before the opening of the pool.

The final betting total for Pool 3 included $117,309 wagered on the pool's final day. Combined wagering on this year's three pools totaled $1,130,169, the third highest toal in the wager's history and the fourth consecutive year in which combined wagering topped $1 million.

This year's Pool 3 wagering total was second smallest single pool total in the wager's five-year history and the smallest since $229,674 was wagered in Pool 3 of the inaugural Future Wager in 1999. But the just-concluded pool was the first to be conducted concurrently with a pool of the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager. The first-ever Oaks future operated on a schedule that was identical to the Derby futures pool with the exception of its closing time. Wagering on the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager - which totaled $117,368 - closed at 5:30 p.m. Sunday - one hour earlier than KDFW Pool 3.

"We're very pleased with the continued fan support for this year's fifth annual Kentucky Derby Future Wager," said Steve Sexton, president of Churchill Downs. "It is clear that our first Kentucky Oaks Future Wager, which ran on roughly the same schedule as Derby Pool 3, had an impact on wagering on the Derby wager. But combined betting on the Oaks and Derby futures pools was very strong and this results of these pools will provide us with important lessons and guidance for the future of both wagers."

Pool Three Final Odds & Will-Pays -- Pool 3 Closed On Sunday, April 6 At 6:30 p.m. (EST)

#	Name	Morning Line**	Final Odds-to-$1	Win Pool Total	$2 Will Pay
1	Alysweep*	30-1	71.00	$2,591	$144.20
2	Aristocat	50-1	48.90	$3,735	$99.80
3	Atswhatimtalknbout	6-1	13.40	$12,907	$28.80
4	Badge Of Silver	15-1	9.60	$17,577	$21.20
5	Brancusi*	20-1	38.60	$4,704	$79.20
6	Buddy Gil*	12-1	13.10	$13,185	$28.20
7	Domestic Dispute	20-1	41.50	$4,383	$85.00
8	During*	30-1	93.70	$1,970	$189.40
9	Empire Maker	3-1	2.50	$52,506	$7.00
10	Funny Cide	50-1	52.70	$3,474	$107.40
11	Inamorato	50-1	68.80	$2,672	$139.60
12	Indy Dancer	15-1	18.20	$9,721	$38.40
13	Kafwain	12-1	18.20	$9,708	$38.40
14	Lion Tamer	20-1	43.30	$4,213	$88.60
15	Man Among Men	30-1	28.30	$6,370	$58.60
16	Ministers Wild Cat	30-1	28.90	$6,235	$59.80
17	New York Hero*	20-1	40.50	$4,496	$83.00
18	Ocean Terrace	30-1	47.10	$3,874	$96.20
19	Offlee Wild	30-1	24.20	$7,406	$50.40
20	Peace Rules	12-1	12.40	$13,903	$26.80
21	Region Of Merit	50-1	46.10	$3,956	$94.20
22	Ten Most Wanted*	30-1	17.40	$10,114	$36.80
23	Trust N Luck	Scr	Scr	Scr	Scr
24	All Other 3-year-olds	10-1	7.20	$22,561	$16.40
	FINAL TOTAL FOR POOL 3	$222,261

* - new addition to Pool 3
** - Morning line odds by Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia
Deletions from Pool Two: Champali, Composure, Great Notion, Senor Swinger, Supah Blitz and Ten Cents A Shine

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Statistics

Wagering (by year)	Pool 1	Pool 2	Pool 3	Total
2003	$516,906	$391,002	$222,261	$1,130,169
2002	$577,889***	$401,070	$524,847	$1,503,806
2001	$510,815	$372,961	$425,871	$1,309,647
2000	$465,454	$306,259	$387,206	$1,158,919
1999	$267,748	$178,811	$229,674	$676,233

Winning payout	Pool 1	Pool 2	Pool 3	Derby payout
2002 (War Emblem)	$7.60	$16.00	$24.00	$43.00
2001 (Monarchos)	$36.60	$13.00	$15.80	$23.00
2000 (Fusaichi Pegasus)	$27.80	$26.40	$8.00**	$6.60
1999 (Charismatic*)	$10.20**	$30.20	$26.60	$64.60

* - Charismatic was a member of the mutuel field in all three KDFW pools in 1999.
** - Favorite
*** - Single pool wagering record