LOUISVILLE, Ky. - After his impressive romp in the Florida Derby, Monarchos was made the 5-1 favorite in Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which closed Sunday, before the running of the Louisiana Derby. Point Given, who makes his seasonal debut Saturday in the San Felipe Stakes, closed as the 6-1 second choice after the usual four-day wagering period. He was followed, also at 6-1, by the mutuel field, which comprises all 3-year-olds not among the 23 listed as single entrants in Pool 2.

Most of the betting on Monarchos came in the aftermath of the Florida Derby. He opened Saturday at 15-1 but was the 6-1 favorite by the close of wagering that night. In Pool 1, offered Feb. 15-18, Monarchos closed at 17-1, with the field the 3-1 favorite.

Total handle on Pool 2 was $372,961, which was lower than the $510,815 wagered Feb. 15-18 on Pool 1 but more than the $306,259 wagered during the same pool a year ago. On Sunday alone, handle was $185,858, which surpassed the entire total of $178,811 bet on Pool 2 in 1999, the first year of the Future Wager.

With the Louisiana Derby being run some 45 minutes after the Future Wager closed Sunday at 4:30 p.m. Eastern, the Pool 2 odds on the top contenders in that race largely mirrored the closeness of their odds in the Fair Grounds race. Hero's Tribute closed at 11-1 in the Future Wager while Dollar Bill and Millennium Wind closed at 12-1. Fifty Stars, the Louisiana Derby winner, was part of the field in Pool 2. Street Cry (12-1) and A P Valentine (14-1) also attracted significant play in Pool 2.

With the Future Wager now available in 30 states, a record for total handle is likely to be established when Pool 3 is offered April 5-8.