Latest Future Wager shows Bob Baffert well-positioned for run at Kentucky Derby immortality

Bob Baffert is leaving nothing to chance in his return to Churchill Downs this spring.

The Hall of Fame trainer saddles nine horses, including the favorite, in Pool 3 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager that opens Friday.

The 151st Kentucky Derby is set for May 3 at Louisville’s iconic racetrack, which suspended Baffert for three years after a failed drug test on 2021 Run for the Roses champion Medina Spirit.

Baffert, winner of six Kentucky Derbys before Medina Spirit’s disqualification, was reinstated by Churchill Downs last July, meaning he’s eligible to run horses in the 2025 Kentucky Derby.

The 72-year-old trainer, who has won two Triple Crowns and a record 17 Triple Crown races in total, is launching his potential return to the Derby with a formidable lineup of 3-year-olds.

Barnes, who is undefeated in two starts, is the individual betting favorite in Pool 3 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager at odds of 10-1, topping a list of 39 such betting interests. “All Other 3-Year-Olds” is the overall favorite at 5-2.

Barnes won a maiden special weight event in his career debut at Churchill Downs on Nov. 27, then launched his 3-year-old campaign Jan. 4 by winning the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita by 5½ lengths.

Baffert’s other eight contenders are Citizen Bull (20-1), Rodriguez (20-1), Gaming (30-1), Varney (40-1), Getaway Car (50-1), Madaket Road (50-1), Romanesque (50-1) and San Saba (50-1).

The second individual betting choice behind Barnes in Pool 3 is 15-1 East Avenue. The Brendan Walsh trainee won the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland last fall before finishing ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, which was won by Baffert’s Citizen Bull.

Betting for Pool 3 opens Friday at noon and closes Sunday at 6 p.m. EST. The pool, which features $2 Win and Exacta wagering, is available at racetracks and simulcast outlets nationwide.

All told, there will be six Future Wager pools for the $5 million Kentucky Derby. Future Wager Pool 4 is set for Feb. 14-16, Pool 5 is scheduled for March 14-16 and Pool 6 will take place April 3-5.

The Road to the Kentucky Derby continues Saturday with the $250,000, Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds in New Orleans.

Wayne Catalano trains the morning-line favorite, Built, at 3-1. Louisville-based trainer Brad Cox saddles 9-2 second choice Disco Time along with 8-1 pick Admiral Dennis. The 14-horse field also includes Magnitude (6-1) and Innovator (10-1), who join Built and Disco Time as Pool 3 betting interests.

Lexington-based trainer Kenny McPeek, winner of last year’s Kentucky Derby with Mystik Dan, has two entrants in the 1 1/16-mile Lecomte in Maximum Promise (10-1) and Mobetterthangood (20-1).

McPeek does not train an individual betting choice in Pool 3. Cox is second to Baffert with four entrants in Pool 3

Citizen Bull is the early leader in Derby qualifying points with 40, followed by Coal Battle (20), Gaming (18), Getaway Car (16) and Jonathan’s Way (15).

Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 3

1. American Promise (50-1)

2. Barnes (10-1)

3. Built (30-1)

4. Bullard (20-1)

5. Chancer McPatrick (20-1)

6. Citizen Bull (20-1)

7. Coal Battle (50-1)

8. Colloquial (50-1)

9. Cyclone State (40-1)

10. Disco Time (50-1)

11. Donut God (40-1)

12. East Avenue (15-1)

13. Ferocious (30-1)

14. First Resort (30-1)

15. Gaming (30-1)

16. Getaway Car (50-1)

17. Grande (50-1)

18. Grayscale (99-1)

19. Gunmetal (30-1)

20. Guns Loaded (50-1)

21. Hill Road (50-1)

22. Innovator (50-1)

23. Jonathan’s Way (40-1)

24. Journalism (20-1)

25. Keep It Easy (40-1)

26. Madaket Road (50-1)

27. Magnitude (80-1)

28. Owen Almighty (50-1)

29. Patch Adams (20-1)

30. Poster (40-1)

31. Rated by Merit (50-1)

32. Rodriguez (20-1)

33. Romanesque (50-1)

34. San Saba (50-1)

35. Sandman (80-1)

36. Sovereignty (25-1)

37. Tappan Street (50-1)

38. Tiztastic (99-1)

39. Varney (40-1)

40. All Other 3-Year-Olds (5-2)