How to Hit the Kentucky Derby Trifecta

Is it possible to hit the trifecta or superfecta in the Kentucky Derby? How many combinations are there in a 20-horse field and what are the average payoffs? What is the right way to approach the exotics in such a large field?

Combinations

In a 20-horse field there are 116,280 possible winning combinations in the superfecta. For the trifecta it is 6,840 and the exacta has 380. If you are going to successfully hit a bet like the superfecta you need to take a stand to help offset the odds of hitting the wager.  

Superfecta

Trifecta

Exacta

19: 342

Payoffs

The risk is worth the reward in a race like the Derby because the average winning payoffs are huge, especially in the superfecta. The $2 superfecta payout in the last six years has ranged from $29,000 to more than $800,000.

Strategies

Trying to pick the Kentucky Derby winner in 2011 is especially difficult because the field is so evenly matched. Another way to approach the exotics is to key a horse underneath.

An article posted earlier this week on Horse Racing Nation suggested longshots to consider in the Derby. The writer mentioned Pants On Fire, Santiva, Shackleford, and a couple of others as live wires on the first Saturday in May. If you like one of those horses to hit the board you could key them in the following manner...

Let's use #12 Santiva as an example. Make a small win wager on him and key him in the 2nd and/or 3rd slots under all of your win contenders (ex.- #1,7,8,13,18) in the trifecta. You could use the same approach in the superfecta. 

Trifecta 1-7-8-13-18/ALL/12  

The $1 trifecta in the above example would cost $90. So, you could invest a total of $200 in the race keying Santiva in the 2-3 slots and making a $20 win saver.   

Making smarter decisions and knowing how to approach the exotics will lead to a steadily growing bankroll and that is something everyone can agree with. Good luck in the Derby!