Florida Derby Stars Head Final Future Wager

The fourth and final 2016 Kentucky Derby Future Wager this weekend times up well with the $1 million XpressBet.com Florida Derby (gr. I) showdown of unbeatens in Shadwell Stable's Mohaymen and Reddam Racing's 2-year-old champion Nyquist April 2 at Gulfstream Park.

Bettors will have the opportunity to consider the outcome of the Florida Derby before making their future wager choice as the pool will run from April 1-3. 

Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia has installed Mohaymen, winner of Gulfstream's XpressBet.com Fountain of Youth (gr. II) for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, as the solid 7-2 favorite among 24 wagering interests in his morning-line odds. If Battaglia's odds are validated in his effort to hold East Coast home court in the Florida Derby, the gray son of Tapit   will have been the favorite 3-year-old Thoroughbred in three of the four 2016 Derby Futures pools.

Nyquist, the Doug O'Neill-trained winner of last fall's $2 million Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) at Keeneland and Santa Anita Park's San Vicente (gr. II) in his only previous start of 2016, is the only other Pool 4 betting interest with single-digit odds. The Southern California-based son of sizzling first-year sire Uncle Mo   is the 8-1 second choice for the upcoming pool, but could reverse those odds with a triumph over Mohaymen in their East-West battle in the Florida Derby.

The 24th KDFW wagering option of the mutuel field consisting of all others has a 10-1 morning-line.

Betting on the future wager at participating outlets will begin at noon Friday and continue to 6 p.m. Sunday.