LOUISVILLE, Ky. (March 12, 2009) – Justwhistledixie, an easy winner of the Davona Dale (Grade II) at Gulfstream Park, was a surprise favorite over morning line choices Stardom Bound and Rachel Alexandra following Thursday’s opening day of betting in Churchill Downs’ 2009 Kentucky Oaks Future Wager (“KOFW”).

West Point Thoroughbreds, Lakland Farm and Dee Hubbard’s daughter of Dixie Union stood as the 9-5 fan’s choice after the opening session of the four-day wager. The Kiaran McLaughlin-trained filly won the March 1 Davona Dale by 3 3/4 lengths for her fourth consecutive victory. She had been listed as a 12-1 risk in Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia’s morning line odds for the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager. Stardom Bound, a five-time Grade I stakes winner and the champion 2-year-old filly of 2008, was the 9-2 second choice and Rachel Alexandra, winner of the Golden Rod (GII) at Churchill Downs and a heavy favorite in Saturday’s Fair Grounds Oaks (GII), was the 5-1 third choice at the conclusion of Thursday’s betting.

Stardom Bound was the 5-1 favorite in the morning line odds for the Oaks Future bet, while Rachel Alexandra was next in the morning line at 6-1. The mutuel field, which represents all 3-year-old fillies other than the 23 individual horses listed as wagering interests in the Oaks Future bet, closed Thursday’s betting at 10-1, odds that were identical to the morning line price for the ‘all others’ bet. .

The $2 minimum wager allows bettors to bet on contenders for the Kentucky Oaks (GI), America’s premier race for 3-year-old fillies, at odds that could be more attractive than those available on the day of the race. The 135th running of the $500,000-added Kentucky Oaks (GI) is scheduled for Friday, May 1 at Churchill Downs.

Betting on the opening day of the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager totaled $5,889.

Wagering on the Oaks Future Bet is scheduled to resume at noon (all times EDT) on Friday, March 13. The pool will conclude on Sunday at 6:30 p.m., 30 minutes after the close of betting in Pool 2 of the companion Kentucky Derby Future Wager.

Real time odds and other information on the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager are available on the official Kentucky Oaks event Web site at http://www.kentuckyoaks.com.