Forte Leads Lineup for Derby Future Wager Pool 3

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 3 is set for its three-day stand Jan. 20-22, where fans will have the third of six early opportunities to bet the contenders pointed toward the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby (G1).

Pool 3 is led by Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Forte , who was made the 10-1 individual betting favorite. The pari-mutuel field of "All Other 3-Year-Old Colts and Geldings" not listed within the 38 individual betting interests was tabbed as the heavy 6-5 choice.

As was the case last year, Pool 3 will assume that horses under the care of trainers suspended from competing in the 2023 Kentucky Derby will not be under consideration. Instead, they will be included within the pari-mutuel field. This group includes those trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, who is barred from participating at Churchill Downs Inc. tracks through the middle part of this year due to medication violations.

Last year, two horses trained by Baffert made the Kentucky Derby field after they qualified for the race with starts for other trainers in their final Derby preps.

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 3, which features $2 win and $2 exacta wagering, will open Friday at noon ET and close Sunday at 6 p.m. Fans can bet at participating simulcast and advance deposit wagering outlets around the country.

Forte jumped onto the early Road to the Kentucky Derby with a victory in the Breeders' Futurity (GI) in October. He closed as the 10-1 individual favorite in Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager. The Todd Pletcher-trained son of Violence   also took heavy interest in Pool 1, where he closed at 16-1. Forte was given time off following the Breeders' Cup and has yet to make his 3-year-old debut.

Trainer Brad Cox has a roster of 11 horses in Pool 3 led by the returning Breeders' Futurity (GI) runner-up Loggins  (20-1) and undefeated Corona Bolt  (20-1). The others are Victory Formation  (30-1), Giant Mischief  (40-1), Instant Coffee  (40-1), Jace's Road  (40-1), Verifying  (40-1), Tapit Shoes  (50-1), Angel of Empire  (80-1), Hit Show  (80-1), and Tapit's Conquest  (99-1).

There are 17 new betting interests in Pool 3 from Pool 2.

As with the first two pools, betting interest No. 39 is an option to wager on "All 3-Year-Old Fillies." In Pool 2, it closed at odds 29-1 and 37-1 in Pool 1. 

There are six Future Wager pools scheduled in advance of the 2023 Kentucky Derby. The first two were held Nov. 1-3 and Nov. 24-27. Other pools will be held Feb. 10-12 (Pool 4); March 10-12 (Pool 5); and March 30-April 1 (Pool 6). The lone Kentucky Oaks Future Wager will coincide with Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 5 on March 10-12.

There are no refunds in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager. Should Churchill Downs officials determine during the duration of this week's three-day pool that one of the wagering interests has experienced an injury, illness, or other circumstance that would prevent the horse from participating in the Kentucky Derby, betting on the individual horse will be suspended immediately. 

More information, Brisnet.com past performances and real-time odds on the Kentucky Derby Future Wager will be available before the pool opens Friday online.

Here is the complete field with morning line odds: 

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 3