Life Is Good 7-1 in Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 3
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Life Is Good receives a pat from jockey Mike Smith after winning the Sham Stakes at Santa Anita Park
With the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) 11 weeks away, the pari-mutuel field of "All Other 3-Year-Olds" closed as the 3-1 favorite in Pool 3 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, and Sham Stakes (G3) winner Life Is Good was the 7-1 second betting choice.
Life Is Good, who closed as the 5-1 individual favorite in Pool 1 and 7-1 individual choice in Pool 2, was a narrow but fast winner of the one-mile Sham at Santa Anita Park Jan. 2. He is expected to make his next start in the March 6 San Felipe Stakes (G2) for six-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert.
The Brad Cox-trained 2-year-old male champion Essential Quality, perfect in three starts after winning the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1) in November, closed at odds of 8-1 for the third time in as many future wager pools. He is scheduled to make his 3-year-old debut in rescheduled Southwest Stakes (G3) Feb. 21 at Oaklawn Park.
The Shug McGaughey-trained 5 3/4-length Holy Bull Stakes (G3) winner Greatest Honour was close behind at 9-1. Other horses that garnered attention from bettors include 8 1/2-length maiden winner Prevalence (14-1), 10 1/4-length Smarty Jones Stakes winner Caddo River (15-1), Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford (G2) winner Mandaloun (16-1), and San Vicente Stakes (G2) winner Concert Tour (17-1).
Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 3
| Number | Horse | Pool 3 Odds |
| 1 | Caddo River | 15-1 |
| 2 | Candy Man Rocket | 35-1 |
| 3 | Concert Tour | 17-1 |
| 4 | Dream Shake | 28-1 |
| 5 | Essential Quality | 8-1 |
| 6 | Fire At Will | 30-1 |
| 7 | Freedom Fighter | 52-1 |
| 8 | Greatest Honour | 9-1 |
| 9 | Highly Motivated | 37-1 |
| 10 | Hot Rod Charlie | 35-1 |
| 11 | Jackie's Warrior | 26-1 |
| 12 | Keepmeinmind | 25-1 |
| 13 | Life Is Good | 7-1 |
| 14 | Mandaloun | 16-1 |
| 15 | Medina Spirit | 25-1 |
| 16 | Midnight Bourbon | 41-1 |
| 17 | Nova Rags | 91-1 |
| 18 | Prevalence | 14-1 |
| 19 | Risk Taking | 25-1 |
| 20 | Roman Centurian | 41-1 |
| 21 | Senor Buscador | 39-1 |
| 22 | Swiftsure | 74-1 |
| 23 | The Great One | 38-1 |
| 24 | "All Other 3-Year-Olds" | 3-1 |
Total handle for the Feb. 12-14 Kentucky Derby Future Wager pool—the third of five scheduled wagering pools in advance of the 147th running of the $3 million Kentucky Derby May 1—was $388,987 ($278,397 in the Win pool and $110,590 in Exactas).
Dates for the remaining 2021 Kentucky Derby future pools are March 5-7 (Pool 4) and March 26-28 (Pool 5). The lone Kentucky Oaks Future Wager will coincide with Pool 4 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager.