Best Exacta, Trifecta and Superfecta Picks for the Kentucky Derby 2024

The waiting is finally over. The 150th edition Kentucky Derby has arrived, and the first leg of the Triple Crown as always 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 high 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.

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 the Kentucky Derby, I look to include all the horses I see as the most likely to win the race and use them in the first position, and then I include the most likely horses to finish as the runner-up in the second position. This wager is called an Exacta Part Wheel.

In this year’s Kentucky Derby, I like No. 2 Sierra Leone (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 long shot into the exacta, which will mean a much higher payout.

The impressive winner of the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland in his last start, Sierra Leone is a horse who will be finishing fast and should love 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. 4 Catching Freedom (8/1) and No. 7 Honor Marie (20/1), who rallied for first or second, respectively, in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds. 

I will also include one of my top long shots for the race, No. 3 Mystik Dan (20/1), as well as the race favorite No. 17 Fierceness (5/2) to round out my five top choices to win Saturday’s big race.

My Play - $2 Exacta Part Wheel - Total = $60

• First Position: No. 2 Sierra Leone, No. 3 Mystik Dan, No. 4 Catching Freedom, No. 7 Honor Marie, and No. 17 Fierceness

• Second Position: No. 2 Sierra Leone, No. 3 Mystik Dan, No. 4 Catching Freedom, No. 7 Honor Marie, No. 15 Domestic Product, No. 17 Fierceness, and No. 19 Resilience

This wager includes 30 total combinations (5x6), so the $2 Exacta Part Wheel will add up to a $60 investment.

Bet on My Exacta Pick at FanDuel Racing 

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 two picks in the winning spot, my top five choices in the second spot, and will include a few others who I see as possible third-place finisher to close out my winning trifecta.

In this year’s Kentucky Derby, I believe a few long shots have a realistic chance to get a piece of the top three or four. They may not be among my top five most likely winners, but it would not surprise me at all to see horses like No. 19 Resilience, No. 15 Domestic Product, No. 8 Just a Touch, or No. 11 Forever Young fill out the bottom spots of the trifecta or superfecta. 

My Play - $1 Trifecta Part Wheel - Total = $64

• First Position: No. 2 Sierra Leone and No. 4 Catching Freedom

• Second Position: No. 2 Sierra Leone, No. 3 Mystik Dan, No. 4 Catching Freedom, No. 7 Honor Marie, and No. 17 Fierceness

• Third Position: No. 2 Sierra Leone, No. 3 Mystik Dan, No. 4 Catching Freedom, No. 7 Honor Marie, No. 8 Just a Touch, No. 11 Forever Young, No. 15 Domestic Product, No. 17 Fierceness, No. 18 Stronghold, and No. 19 Resilience

This wager includes 64 total combinations (2x4x8), so the $1 Trifecta Part Wheel will add up to a $64 investment.

Bet on My Trifecta Pick at FanDuel Racing 

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. Sierra Leone is my top pick and I will single him in first. Catching Freedom and Honor Marie 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 - Total = $112

• First Position: No. 2 Sierra Leone 

• Second Position: No. 4 Catching Freedom and No. 7 Honor Marie

• Third Position: No. 3 Mystik Dan, No. 4 Catching Freedom, No. 7 Honor Marie, No. 8 Just a Touch, No. 11 Forever Young, No. 15 Domestic Product, No. 17 Fierceness, No. 18 Stronghold, and No. 19 Resilience 

• Fourth Position: No. 3 Mystik Dan, No. 4 Catching Freedom, No. 7 Honor Marie, No. 8 Just a Touch, No. 11 Forever Young, No. 15 Domestic Product, No. 17 Fierceness, No. 18 Stronghold, and No. 19 Resilience

This wager includes 112 total combinations (1x2x8x7), so the $1 Superfecta Part Wheel will add up to a $112 investment.

Bet on My Superfecta Pick at FanDuel Racing 

Where to Bet on Exacta, Trifecta and Superfecta

TwinSpires and FanDuel Racing are here for all your Kentucky Derby 2024 betting needs. For more details, have a look at our selection of the best Kentucky Derby Betting Sites and Apps.

At FanDuel Racing, you can claim a $20 No Sweat First Bet when you place a bet on the Kentucky Derby. You can also claim their welcome offer of $500 No Sweat First Bet.

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How to Watch the Kentucky Derby 2024

• What: Kentucky Derby (Grade 1) 

• Location: Churchill Downs

• Time: Saturday, May 4 at 6:57 pm ET

• How to Watch: NBC

• Purse: $5,000,000