Best Exacta, Trifecta and Superfecta Picks for the Kentucky Derby 2025

After months of following the preps and waiting for the big race, the 2025 Kentucky Derby is finally here. As usual, the first leg of the Triple Crown offers an outstanding wagering opportunity for horse racing bettors everywhere. While many will play it safe with a Win bet in this year’s big race, more experienced bettors will look for a much bigger payout with Exacta, Trifecta, and Superfecta wagers.

Needing to be right about multiple horses in the top two, top three, or even top four finishing positions obviously adds a level of difficulty of cashing in the wager, but collecting on these wagers can be more than worth the risk.

For example, triggered by the victory of Rich Strike, an 80/1 long shot winner of the 2022 Kentucky Derby, the payouts of the exacta, trifecta, and superfecta made many bettors happy indeed. 

The winning $2 Exacta with Rich Strike on top that year paid $4,101.20, while the 50-cent Trifecta returned $7,435.35, and finally, the $1 Superfecta rewarded a life-changing sum of $321,500.10. 

Most years will not have a winning horse with such big odds as Rich Strike, but still, the Kentucky Derby consistently returns healthy payouts. Without further ado, here is how I plan on winning big on this year’s Kentucky Derby.

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My Exacta Pick

A winning exacta wager requires the bettor to select the Top 2 finishers of a race in exact order. The minimum wager for this bet at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby day is $1, but you need to bet a minimum of $2. For example, a $1 exacta box with two horses would reach the $2 minimum.

To formulate a winning exacta wager for this year’s Kentucky Derby, I will use the five horses I expect to run big in both the first and second position. This wager is called an Exacta Box.

In this year’s Kentucky Derby I like No.8 Journalism (3/1) the best, but I will spread my wager, using multiple horses. I do this for two reasons. First, I give myself a better chance to cash my ticket in a race with 20 horses. I also look to get a longshot into the exacta, which will mean a much higher payout.

The impressive winner of the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby in his last start, Journalism is a horse of class and should appreciate the 1 1/4-mile distance of the Kentucky Derby. A fast early pace is expected, which will only help his late running style.

Other horses who can take advantage of a fast early pace to come running late include No. 3 Final Gambit (30/1), No. 9 Burnham Square (12/1), and No. 18 Sovereignty (5/1). All three should be closing on Saturday.

I will also include the streaking runner from Japan,  No. 7 Luxor Cafe (15/1) to round out my five top choices, as I feel he is a dangerous runner in his first start in the United States.

My Play

$5 Exacta Box

• No. 3 Final Gambit, No. 7 Luxor Cafe, No. 8 Journalism, No. 9 Burnham Square, and No. 18 Sovereignty ($100 cost)

This wager includes 20 total combinations (5x4), so the $5 Exacta Box will add up to a $100 investment.

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My Trifecta Pick

The trifecta takes the exacta wager one step further. A winning trifecta wager in the Kentucky Derby asks the bettor to successfully select the Top 3 finishers of the race in exact order. Once again I will spread out my chances by using multiple horses in each spot, called a Trifecta Part Wheel. I will bet a $1 base on this one, but the minimum at Churchill Downs is 50-cents.

To create a winning trifecta wager for the Kentucky Derby, and also not spend too much on the bet, I will use only my top pick in the winning spot, my other top four choices in the second spot and third spots, and will include a few others who I see as possible second or third-place finishers as well to complete my winning trifecta.

In this year’s Kentucky Derby I really do like No. 8 Journalism best, so if he wins I want to give myself a big chance to collect on this ticket.

My Plays

$1 Trifecta Part Wheel 

• First Position: No. 8 Journalism

• Second Position: No. 3 Final Gambit, No. 7 Luxor Cafe, No. 9 Burnham Square, and No. 18 Sovereignty

• Third Position: No. 3 Final Gambit, No. 7 Luxor Cafe, No. 9 Burnham Square, No. 18 Sovereignty, No. 10 Grande, No. 13 Publisher, No. 14 Tiztastic, No. 16 Coal Battle, No. 17 Sandman, No. 19 Chunk of Gold, and No. 21 Baeza ($40 cost)

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$1 Trifecta Part Wheel 

• First Position: No. 8 Journalism

• Second Position: No. 3 Final Gambit, No. 7 Luxor Cafe, No. 9 Burnham Square, No. 18 Sovereignty, No. 10 Grande, No. 13 Publisher, No. 14 Tiztastic, No. 16 Coal Battle, No. 17 Sandman, No. 19 Chunk of Gold, and No. 21 Baeza

• Third Position: No. 3 Final Gambit, No. 7 Luxor Cafe, No. 9 Burnham Square, and No. 18 Sovereignty ($40 cost)

Each of these wager includes 40 total combinations (1x4x10), so the two $1 Trifecta Part Wheels will add up to a $80 investment.

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My Superfecta Pick

The superfecta requires the bettors to select the Top 4 finishers of a race in exact order. Available for 10-cents most of the year, the Kentucky Derby day superfecta minimum at Churchill Downs is $1. With 20 horses in the field, and the top four required, the cost of this wager can add up fast!

The superfecta wager is all about risk and reward. The chances of hitting it in the big field are not great, but the reward can be substantial to say the least. A smart strategy and good handicapping can put you in with a fighting chance for a really big score.

To come up with a winning superfecta wager for the Kentucky Derby, I will need to make some tough choices. Journalism is my top pick and I will single him in first. Burnham Square and Sovereignty are my next two, so I will need one of them to finish second. After that, I will spread just a little bit to give myself a realistic chance to win, but also avoid constructing an extremely expensive ticket.

My Play

$1 Superfecta Part Wheel

• First Position: No. 8 Journalism

• Second Position: No. 9 Burnham Square and No. 18 Sovereignty

• Third Position: No. 3 Final Gambit, No. 7 Luxor Cafe, No. 9 Burnham Square, No. 18 Sovereignty, No. 13 Publisher, No. 17 Sandman, and No. 21 Baeza

• Fourth Position: No. 3 Final Gambit, No. 7 Luxor Cafe, No. 9 Burnham Square, No. 18 Sovereignty, No. 10 Grande, No. 13 Publisher, No. 14 Tiztastic, No. 16 Coal Battle, No. 17 Sandman, No. 19 Chunk of Gold, and No. 21 Baeza ($108 cost)

This wager includes 112 total combinations (1x2x6x9), so the $1 Superfecta Part Wheel will add up to a $108 investment.

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