Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager opened Thursday with War Pass the early favorite at 3-1 and Pyro second at 6-1. Then Pyro won Saturday’s Grade II Louisiana Derby by three lengths, leaving contenders like Majestic Warrior and Tale of Ekati well behind. By Sunday night’s close, Pyro was the Pool 2 favorite at 4-1 and War Pass second at 9-2. Both horses were listed at 7-1 on the Derby futures market at press time.

Every Derby contender is something of an overnight success story, being just three years old. Pyro’s story begins with sire Pulpit, himself a son of the incredibly successful A.P. Indy. Pulpit and dam Wild Vision both give Pyro plenty of speed, but not a lot of stamina, which could be a problem over the 1 1/4-mile track at Churchill Downs. Pyro’s Grade III Risen Star Stakes victory was over 1 1/16 miles, just like Saturday’s race. Can he go the extra half-furlong?