Kafwain Is Early Derby Pick

The first pool of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager opens today at 9 a.m. PST and will continue until 3:30 p.m. Sunday.

Even though the undefeated Vindication is out of the May 3 Derby, trainer Bob Baffert still has the 3-year-old to beat, according to the odds released by Churchill Downs linemaker Mike Battaglia.

Kafwain, impressive winner of the seven-furlong San Vicente Stakes on Feb. 1, is the 8-1 favorite among the 23 individual horses listed in Pool 1. The field, which includes all of the 3-year-olds not listed, was hung up at 2-1 by Battaglia.

Next on the list are Sky Mesa (12-1) and Toccet (15-1), but both of those horses have to be considered questionable -- at best -- for the Derby. Sky Mesa finished his 2-year-old season unbeaten in three starts, but he hasn’t run since early fall and isn’t scheduled to make his return until next month. Toccet, meanwhile, had a setback in January and won’t return to serious training until the end of this month at the earliest.

Other local 3-year-olds listed were Domestic Dispute (15-1), Empire Maker and Ministers Wild Cat (20-1) and Man Among Men (30-1).

Race of the day: Better Talk Now tries for his fourth win in five starts in today’s ninth at Gulfstream Park, a $42,000 optional claimer at 1 1/8 miles on the turf.

Who’s hot: Jon Court. The jockey has won with seven of 27 mounts at Oaklawn Park.

Who’s not: Eight New York-bred maidens in Aqueduct’s fourth are 0 for 91.

Exotically speaking: A pick four using Lou’s Expectation and Pacing The Cage in the fifth, singling Hitchcock’s Best in the sixth, Bonus Pay Day in the seventh and Striking Storm, Lakeside Trail, Handyman Bill, Smart Alyk, Beckham, Song Minister and Rocket Thruster in the eighth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 1/94. Money: Previous day/meet total: $4.40/$567. Total money bet: $614.