Betting the Kentucky Derby Exacta:
One of the most challenging decisions you’ll have to make before the Kentucky Derby is which wagers to play. There are many different ways to bet the Kentucky Derby, so we’re going to try and help you with one of the more basic wagers – the exacta.
In this wager, you are trying to select the top two finishers of a race, in order. You can pick as many horses as you would like to include, but every time you add another horse, it increases the cost of the wager, which decreases your return on investment.
I’m going to build an exacta bet around the two horses I like most and then use two others in the second spot. That means if either No. 6 Commandment or No. 8 So Happy win the race, I have a chance to win this bet.
No. 6 Commandment
The Florida Derby winner is the only horse in the field with four wins. He has defeated the strongest groups in his victories, with wins over Chief Wallabee and The Puma. He is my top choice.
No. 8 So Happy
The Santa Anita Derby winner is a little sneaky here. Based on Beyer Speed Figures, he is right in the mix with the top contenders. We just don’t know how good the group of California horses is this year, or if this distance will be too far for So Happy. He could offer strong value and has a nice running style for the Derby, sitting just behind the early leaders. Trainer Mark Glatt recently dealt with the death of his wife. It will be an emotional Derby Day for many who will be rooting for, and with, the Glatt family.
Both So Happy and No. 14 Potente raced against each other at Santa Anita. The California horses fit very well on speed figures, and they’re going to offer nice value. Potente is trained by six-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert.
My big longshot to use is No. 19 Golden Tempo. He’s going to be really far back early but should come closing at a huge price and could make these exactas pay great.
The exacta looks like this:
Churchill Downs Race 12
$2 Exacta 6, 8 with 6, 8, 14, 19 = $12
If you’re following along with these picks and want to go deeper, Daily Racing Form’s Kentucky Derby Package has everything you need: Past performances, expert picks, full analysis, comprehensive betting strategies, and more. Get access to the most trusted information in horse racing at DRF.com.
