Essential Quality Morning-Line Favorite in Future Wager

Godolphin's undefeated champion colt Essential Quality was made the 3-1 morning line favorite in the field of 24 betting options for Pool 5 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager that will span March 26-28. 

Pool 5 of the KDFW is the final pari-mutuel opportunity for bettors to get early action prior to the 147th running of the $3 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) May 1 at Churchill Downs. The three-day pool opens Friday at noon ET and will close Sunday at 6 p.m. 

Trained by Brad Cox, Essential Quality currently is based at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots and is preparing for the April 3, $800,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland. The Tapit  colt most recently defeated six rivals, including fellow KDFW entrant Spielberg, in the Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park. Essential Quality is one of three Cox trainees in Pool 5. The others are Shortleaf Stable's Smarty Jones Stakes winner Caddo River and Juddmonte Farms' Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford (G2) hero Mandaloun.

One of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert's top Derby contenders, Life Is Good, was removed from Derby contention because he is scheduled to undergo surgery Friday to remove a small chip in his left hind ankle.

Baffert is still well-stocked for the Kentucky Derby with Gary and Mary West's undefeated colt Concert Tour. The son of 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense  is targeting the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) April 10 following his victory in the Rebel Stakes (G2). Along with Concert Tour, the Baffert line-up also includes Zedan Racing Stables' Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) winner Medina Spirit along with SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Golconda Stable, Siena Farm, and Robert Masterson's Southwest runner-up Spielberg and Rebel runner-up Hozier, the latter of which Stonestreet Stables is also part owner of.

Another horse likely to garner attention in Pool 5 of the KDFW is Courtlandt Farm's Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) winner Greatest Honour. Campaigned by 2013 Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Shug McGaughey, Greatest Honour is the likely favorite in Saturday's $750,000 Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa (G1).

After the morning-line was unveiled for the upcoming pool, it was announced that wagering on Big Lake (#1), the third-place finisher of the Rebel, had been suspended. Big Lake, trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen and owned by Mike Rutherford, emerged from the March 13 Rebel with an injury and will be sidelined. 

There are 10 races remaining on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. The remaining race schedule can be found at www.kentuckyderby.com/horses/prep-races. More information and real-time odds are available online at www.KentuckyDerby.com/FutureWager.