Kentucky Derby future pool two is open from February 9-11, and with the picture starting to focus let’s look at some of the opportunities.

With Bolt D’Oro on the shelf for the past few months, and McKinzie’s two solid runs, the latter now is the morning line favorite at 8-1.  (Do remember that the pools are pairmutuel, so the odds will change until the pool closes on Sunday evening – Unlike betting at the Wynn or another casino, where your odds are fixed when you buy your ticket).

There are now enough viable horses in the pool that we are apt to get a price we like.  Eligible candidates that might be overlooked on the board include Solomini (20-1 ML) who has been off since the Montreal Screwjob in the Los Al Futurity, Strike Power (20-1 ML) who rolled to a 102 Beyer in a sprint, and won convincingly

Mourinho joins the pool at a 12-1 morning line.  He had a powerful front running score with a 99 Beyer, and having given him some consideration for a few weeks, his forwardly placed running style does generally suit the Derby.  I’ll give him a look if he drifts up.

Mendlessohn might be interesting with any upward drift from the 30-1 morning line.

Audible’s impressive Holy Bull probably makes him a candidate to drop from his 12-1 morning line, which would not present enough value for me.

Who don’t I like?  I don’t need any Firenze Fire or Free Drop Billy here.  I’m generally against all of the Romans horses right now. Avery Island’s 87 Beyer wasn’t enough to grab my attention yet.  I’ll pass on McKinzie and Mask at the ML prices.

I hold some small positions with Bolt D’Oro keyed first and second in exacta from pool 1.   Odds are I will dabble a bit in the exactas again this time around, as you can find some logical combos to make the gate that pay $250 for a $2 mutuel.  That’s a position I’d like to be in on the first Saturday in May.

I’ll look to post an update Sunday morning as the prices take shape.