Kentucky Derby wagering menu offers bevy of wagering opportunities

A bevy of betting options await handicappers on Saturday’s 14-race Kentucky Derby program at Churchill Downs, which breaks from the gate at 11 a.m. Eastern and concludes with the main event at approximately 7:01 p.m.

On offer during the eight-hour betting extravaganza will be all the standard single-race wagers, including Win, Place, Show; Exacta; and when the field-size allows, Trifectas and Superfectas.

Trifectas on Derby Day are a 50-cent minimum wager, while Superfectas have a 10-cent minimum. Additionally, for the first time this year, the minimum Superfecta for the Kentucky Derby will also be 10-cents. It had previously been a $1 base wager.

Kentucky Derby Multi-Race Wagers

There will be plenty of opportunities for horizontal players on the Kentucky Derby card. Starting with the opener, there will be both rolling Daily Doubles with a $1 minimum and rolling Pick 3s for 50-cents throughout the card.

For those seeking bigger reward, the abundant program also offers four Pick 4s, the same number of Pick 5s and what is an all-stakes "Single 6” covering the last six races.

The Pick 4 and Pick 5 are both 50-cent minimum wagers.

Pick 5 pools will begin in race No. 1; race No. 4; race No. 7; and race No. 10, which starts with the Iroquois Stakes (G3) for 2 year-olds and ends with the Kentucky Derby.

Last year's Pick 5 ending with the Kentucky Derby paid $72,317.60.

The quartet of Pick 4 wagers will encompass races 2-5; 5-8; 8-11; and 11-14. The opening sequence includes three straight maiden races and an allowance with the remaining three  Race No. 5, which consists.

The Single 6 is a 20-cent minimum wager that requires picking six straight winners. If there is a single winning ticket, it takes down the entire Single 6 pool. However, if there are multiple winning tickets, they will split 90% of the pool with the remainder carrying over to the next Churchill Downs' racing program.

To get you started, below is a quick primer on Saturday’s Kentucky Derby all-stakes Single 6 at Churchill Downs, which begins at 3:35 p.m. Eastern. Note last year’s Single 6, which included Country House being awarded the Kentucky Derby victory at 65-1, had multiple winning tickets and paid $271,869.80.

Before scratches, field sizes for the sequence are 9-11-8-10-10-18. Click on the race name to see the full entries.

2020 Kentucky Derby Single 6

9th Race: $500,000 Pat Day Mile (G2)

A field of nine 3-year-olds will go a mile around one turn. Plenty of familiar names are signed up including Grade 1-winning sprinters No Parole and Echo Town. Rushie and Cezzane, who were both on the cusp of the Kentucky Derby, land here after shipping in from Southern California.   

10th Race: $200,000 Iroquois Stakes (G2)

This wide-open field of 11 juvenile colts includes stakes winners Pico d’Oro (Ellis Park Juvenile) for William Morey and Super Stock (Texas Futurity) for Steve Asmussen. Therideofalifetime, a runaway maiden winner at Keeneland for Ignacio Carrera this summer,  could wind up favored after running second in the Saratoga Special (G2) and earning a field-high Brisnet Speed Rating.

11th Race: $500,000 Distaff Turf Mile (G2)

Newspaperofrecord has been outstanding in a pair of dominant gate-to-wire wins this season, including the Grade 1 Just a Game at Belmont Park by three lengths on June 27. She will likely be a “single” on plenty of tickets. The main threat could be Juliet Foxtrot, who was beaten 1 1/2 lengths when third behind top turf mare Rushing Fall in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley at Keeneland.

12th Race: $500,000 Derby City Distaff (G1)

A field 10 older fillies and mares are set to go seven furlongs on the main track. This is an accomplished group that includes a trio of Grade 1 winners in 2019 Kentucky Oaks heroine Serengeti Empress, Ce Ce and Bellafina. Mia Mischief also looms a threat, as she just missed in the Grade 1 Madison at Keeneland last out and sports a sharp Churchill Downs’ record of 9: 5-2-1.

13th Race: $1 million Turf Classic (G1)

A field of 10 is set to go 1 1/8 miles on the Churchill Downs green including Grade 1 winner Bowie’s Hero shipping in from Southern California, and graded stakes winners Factor This, Digital Age, Mr Dumas, True Valour and Somelikeithotbrown. Trainer Chad Brown also looms with Rockemperor, who in his two most recent starts was beaten a nose by United in the Charlie Whittingham (G2) and a neck in the Grade 1 Manhattan by Instilled Regard.

14th Race: $3 million Kentucky Derby (G1)

Tiz the Law is likely to be the shortest-priced Kentucky Derby favorite since Arazi in 1992. If you’re wary of singling in an 18-horse field, the morning line has this pegged as really a three-horse race between Tiz the Law (3-5), Honor A.P. (5-1) and Authentic (8-1).