The Kentucky Derby is nearly here, which means a lot of newcomers to betting will be looking to understand the betting markets available to them. Most bettors will stick to wagers on the win market, as they are the easiest to understand, as returns will be awarded should your selection first cross the line at Churchill Downs.
However, many bettors will be looking to get more creative with their choices come Derby day, and that has led to a rise in the popularity of wagering on the Exacta and Superfecta markets. You can find out more about these types of bets and what you must achieve to get returns here.
What Is A Trifecta?
Trifectas are a very common bet among experienced bettors, as it enables punters to get additional value for the hours of research conducted before race day. In this market, the bettor must correctly predict the runners that finish first, second, and third in the correct order.
Therefore, if your selections don’t finish in the exact order, then the stake is lost. The added degree of difficulty ensures that returns for this type of bet can be huge.
What Is A Superfecta?
A Superfecta is very similar to a Trifecta, but the big difference is that bettors must correctly predict the horse that also finishes in fourth place. Therefore, in order to get returns, the bet must correctly predict the horses that finish in first, second, third, and fourth in the precise order.
Once again, as this can often be extremely rare to achieve, there are often massive returns when placing a wager on this market. However, it can be extremely rewarding if you have conducted the required research before the Kentucky Derby.
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Trifecta/Superfecta Alternatives
Nailing a Trifecta or Superfecta can often be extremely difficult, given that you won’t just need to predict the winner of the race but also the runners that finish in the other places. However, this leads to many bettors using the Trifecta Box and Superfecta Box options.
For the Trifecta box, bettors can pick at least three horses that they think will finish in the first three positions, and the returns will be awarded, providing that the selections finish first, second, and third in any order.
The Superfecta Box bet will require at least four selections, but bets will be paid out as long as the horses selected finish in the first four places, regardless of the finishing order.
Pros and Cons
Trifecta and Superfecta betting can both be extremely lucrative if you make winning selections, but they can also be extremely difficult to predict correctly.
This is especially the case in a race as unpredictable as the Kentucky Derby, as runners will be jostling for position in the early stages, while long-shots always have a chance, evident by Rich Strike’s win in the race 12 months ago.
In order to stand the best chance of gaining returns in these markets, bettors typically opt for the box selections, as this enables more than just three or four horses being able to finish in the required positions.
Furthermore, bettors will also have the added security of knowing that their bet is a winner regardless of the finishing order.
The research is essential before making wagers on any of the exotics markets, and punters will need to do extensive reading into possible speed angles, and the running style of their selections is. As well as this, bettors will also need to study key Kentucky Derby trends, including the post-position stats and the recent form of trainers and jockeys in the famous race.
