Kentucky Derby Exotic Bets – Exacta, Trifecta & Superfecta Picks for 2024

• Looking for a more sophisticated way to bet the Kentucky Derby that also comes with bigger payouts than just picking a winner?
• Test out exactas, trifectas, and superfectas while deciding if you want to box the bet or key a specific horse
• See my best exacta, trifecta, and superfecta bets below

The 150th Kentucky Derby on Saturday will likely see close to $300 million in wagers. Hopefully, I can hit several exotics bets during the busy day at Churchill Downs. We’ll go over some of our picks for today (Saturday) and what to watch for during the Run for the Roses.

Last year, a $2 exacta paid $330.44. Even better, the $.50 trifecta was $491.18, as well as $15,643.65 for a correct $1 superfecta.

There are multiple factors to consider when handicapping the Kentucky Derby. The weather, post positions, jockeys, trainers and previous performances will all have an impact on the odds. It’s great to know how to read horse racing odds and betting programs ahead of the event, which will provide you with essential information about each contender.

The most popular bet on Saturday will be on a single horse to win the race. You can also wager on a horse to place (finish at least 2nd) or show (finish at least 3rd). But the largest tickets are cashed by bettors who successfully create exotic wagers for the 20-horse field.

Field for the 150th Kentucky Derby

These are all of the horses in the 2024 Kentucky Derby and the morning line odds. These Kentucky Derby odds will shift based on how bettors react leading up to the race.

1. Dornoch (20-1)
2. Sierra Leone (3-1)
3. Mystik Dan (20-1)
4. Catching Freedom (8-1)
5. Catalytic (30-1)
6. Just Steel (20-1)
7. Honor Marie (20-1)
8. Just a Touch (10-1)
9. Encino (SCR)
10. T O Password (JPN) (30-1)
11. Forever Young (JPN) (10-1)
12. Track Phantom (20-1)
13. West Saratoga (50-1)
14. Endlessly (30-1)
15. Domestic Product (30-1)
16. Grand Mo the First (50-1)
17. Fierceness (5-2)
18. Stronghold (20-1)
19. Resilience (20-1)
20. Society Man (50-1)
21. Epic Ride (30-1)
22. Mugatu (ALT) (30-1)

Fierceness opened as the favorite, with a lot of that having to do with a dominant win in the Florida Derby. It also helps to have John Velazquez as the jockey. Trainer Todd Pletcher has a great chance to winning his third Kentucky Derby with this colt. It drew the No. 17 post, which has never produced a winner. The scratch by Encino has moved him to No. 16.

The other popular pick on Saturday is Sierra Leone. Trainer Chad Brown will be looking for his first Kentucky Derby with the most expensive horse in the field. The jockey, Tyler Gaffalione, is also going for his first derby win, but he has had tons of success at Churchill Downs.

Best Kentucky Derby Exotic Bets

It’s hard to hit an exotic bet in such a large field, especially when a longshot is in the mix. I’m placing several exactas, trifectas and superfectas on Saturday to give myself a chance at a win.

Remember to use all of the different types of wagers to your advantage. You can always key a horse that you think will win or box the entire bet so the horses can finish in any order.

Kentucky Derby Exacta Picks

We have discussed the two strong favorites in the Kentucky Derby, and I will definitely have both in an exacta.

• $5 exacta: Sierra Leone and Fierceness
• $5 exacta box: Fierceness and Catching Freedom
• $5 exacta key: Sierra Leone with Forever Young and Honor Marie

This will give me several chances to hitting a nice ticket. I’m sticking with Fierceness and Sierra Leone, but also adding in another three horses that I think could have a successful trip.

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Catching Freedom is another horse trained by Cox. Flavien Pratt will ride the colt who was bred by WinStar Farm. He will look to close late, just like he did in the Louisiana Derby. Honor Marie wasn’t far behind in that race.

A Japanese horse has yet to win the Run for the Roses, but Forever Young has a real chance at making history. The colt has yet to lose in his five starts, winning the UAE Derby (G2) and the Saudi Derby (G3)

Kentucky Derby Trifecta & Superfecta Picks

It only gets harder as we look into trifectas and superfectas. This is when a longshot can sneak in and ruin a nearly perfect bet. But there’s nothing better than having that getting it right. I recommend including some of the horses we have discussed while adding in surprise.

• $1 trifecta box: Sierra Leone, Just Steel and Catching Freedom
• $1 trifecta key: Fierceness with Honor Marie, Mystik Dan and Just a Touch
• $1 superfecta box: Sierra Leone, Fierceness, Forever Young and Catching Freedom

There’s a chance of rain on Saturday, which would help Mystik Dan become a top contender. Hopefully, one of these exotic bets will hit for a nice pay day. Another longshot to throw in would by Catalytic, who drew the No. 5 post that has produced the most winners. If his odds are long enough on Saturday, I’ll take him across the board just in case.

The Kentucky Derby is the 12th race of the day at Churchill Downs, so there is plenty of action to bet on throughout the day. Try placing a Daily Double, Pick 3, Pick 4 or Pick 5 to correctly pick multiple races in a row.

Sign up on TwinSpires and FanDuel to get in your bets before post time at 6:57 pm ET. Each app has all of the types of horse racing bets that you will need for the big race.