Superfecta betting offers bettors the chance at a life-changing score for a moderate outlay of cash. Five-figure superfecta payoffs occur on a weekly basis, with 6-figure payouts not that uncommon, especially on horseracing’s biggest days - Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup.

The superfecta in the 2007 Kentucky Derby, won by 9/2 shot Street Sense, paid $29,046.40 for a $2 ticket. In 2005, the Kentucky Derby was won by 50-1 shot Giacomo, triggering a monstrous $1 superfecta payoff of $864,253.50. There were six winning tickets. At the 2006 Breeder’s Cup there were three 5-figure $2 superfecta payoffs and one 6-figure payoff of $113,911.80, in the Breeder’s Cup Sprint. That should be enough to convince you that superfectas are worth going after - intelligently that is.

In my Kentucky Derby wagering strategy piece, I originally intended on including a portion on dime superfectas, until it came to my attention that the minimum wager for superfectas on both Oaks and Derby day was $1.A dime super box can be a fun and profitable approach on any race day, not just a big one, so I’ve modified what I originally included just a bit. To summarize, the best approach to superfecta betting is to focus on using wheels. Straight superfectas CAN be the right choice in some circumstances. Boxes can, too, providing you’re not including too many selections. Wheels are the best option more often than not, though. It’s easier to get involved in the superfecta when the minimum is $.10 but there are still a few ways to have fun and not break the bank. $1 superfecta of 1/2,3,4/2,3,4/2,3,4 = $6 (1 x 3 x 3 x 3) Add an additional horse in last three positions and make it $24. (1x4x4x4) $1 superfecta of.

Superfecta betting requires that you select the first four finishers in a race in exact order. Originally offered as a $1 minimum wager, which prevented many smaller bettors from being able to effectively cover numerous superfecta combinations, many tracks now offer $0.10 and $0.20 superfecta bets. This has allowed even casual bettors a shot at cashing a big ticket.

The key to superfecta wagering is to cover as many of the probable outcomes as possible without spending a fortune. This is not easy when you consider that in an 8-horse field there are 1,680 (8 * 7 * 6 * 5) possible winning superfecta combinations. A $1 box of all possible winning superfecta combinations in an 8-horse field would cost you $1,680. A $0.20 or $0.10 superfecta box would cost you one fifth or one tenth of the $1 box cost respectively.

While superfecta boxes do have their place in specific scenarios, they are generally the most inefficient method of betting the superfecta, simply because they allocate the same amount of money to every possible combination. This is out of line with the actual winning probabilities of each combination, and thus results in inefficiencies in the superfecta betting pools that smart bettors can take advantage of. Additional superfecta wagering strategies include straight superfecta bets, superfecta wheels and superfecta part key wheels.

Straight Superfecta Betting

The simplest of all superfecta wagering strategies, a straight superfecta bet covers the least amount of combinations for the least amount of money. A straight superfecta bet 2-3-5-6, usually offered in a minimum denomination of $2, would cost you $2, and would win only if the final order of finish was 2-3-5-6. Of course, this would give you only one of the possible 1,680 combinations in an 8-horse field. Not much coverage, not much outlay of cash, and not much chance of winning.

Superfecta Boxes

Boxing all horses in the superfecta is not only cost-prohibitive; it is also dumb in 95 percent of cases - rating each possible combination as having an equal probability of winning. Of course, if you were absolutely certain that the two favorites would finish out of the money in an 8-horse field, you could box the remaining six horses and make a profit. A $1 6-horse superfecta box covering 360 combinations would cost you $360 (6 * 5 * 4 * 3). If both favorites finished out of the money, and assuming the superfecta betting pools were of reasonable size, the superfecta would likely pay more than $360 for a $1. You could also play the smaller $0.10 or $0.20 superfecta boxes offered by some tracks, for one tenth or one fifth of the cost of a $1 ticket, but you would also only collect one tenth or one fifth of the total $1 payoff respectively.

Realistically, the only time to play a large superfecta box is when you believe one and preferably two of the favorites will finish out of the money. Despite the obvious inefficiencies of superfecta box betting, it remains the most popular form of superfecta wagering among casual players and even decent handicappers, primarily because it requires very little mental effort. If you do find a race where the favorites look like they can finish out of the money - which would make the superfecta box strategy profitable – the costs of such boxes follow below.

$1 Superfecta Box Costs

(Divide by 5 for $0.20 superfecta box cost and by 10 for $0.10 superfecta box cost)

• $1 superfecta box of 4 horses = 24 possible combinations = $24
• $1 superfecta box of 5 horses = 120 possible combinations = $120
• $1 superfecta box of 6 horses = 360 possible combinations = $360
• $1 superfecta box of 7 horses = 840 possible combinations = $840
• $1 superfecta box of 8 horses = 1,680 possible combinations = $1,680
• $1 superfecta box of 9 horses = 3,024 possible combinations = $3,024
• $1 superfecta box of 10 horses = 5,040 possible combinations = $5,040
• $1 superfecta box of 11 horses = 7,920 possible combinations = $7,920
• $1 superfecta box of 12 horses = 11,880 possible combinations = $11,880

Superfecta Wheels

A superfecta wheel keying one horse with a number of others to finish in the remaining three positions allows you to lower your costs based on good handicapping. While not the most efficient method of betting the superfecta, a superfecta wheel is a much better option than a superfecta box, as it allows you to reduce your costs based on probabilities. For example, if you like one horse to finish first or second, and can narrow the remainder of the field down to five contenders, you could play your key horse to finish first and second over your remaining five contenders in second, third and fourth and first, third and fourth.

A $1 superfecta wheel keying the 1 horse to finish first with 2,6,7,8,9 in any of the second, third and fourth positions would provide you with 60 possible combinations at a cost of $60. You could also key the 1 horse in a $1 superfecta wheel in the second position with any of 2,6,7,8,9 to finish first, third and fourth at a similar cost of $60. The total cost of a superfecta wheel keying your main horse in first and second with five other horses to finish in the remaining three positions would be $120. Compare this to boxing six horses in a $1 box at a cost of $360. Obviously the more cost efficient superfecta bet is to key a horse. Below are the costs involved when keying one horse with a set number of others in $1 superfecta wheels. Again, divide by five or 10 if you are playing $0.20 or $0.10 superfecta tickets respectively.

Superfecta Wheel Costs

• $1 superfecta wheel 1 horse with 3 horses in the remaining three positions = $6
• $1 superfecta wheel 1 horse with 4 horses in the remaining three positions = $24
• $1 superfecta wheel 1 horse with 5 horses in the remaining three positions = $60
• $1 superfecta wheel 1 horse with 6 horses in the remaining three positions = $120
• $1 superfecta wheel 1 horse with 7 horses in the remaining three positions = $201
• $1 superfecta wheel 1 horse with 8 horses in the remaining three positions = $336
• $1 superfecta wheel 1 horse with 9 horses in the remaining three positions = $504
• $1 superfecta wheel 1 horse with 10 horses in the remaining three positions = $720
• $1 superfecta wheel 1 horse with 11 horses in the remaining three positions = $990

Getting Creative - Superfecta Part Key Wheels

The most efficient method of playing the superfecta is to find more than one key horse and use other multiple contenders to fill out the remaining positions in the superfecta. In the early days of superfecta wagering, before $0.20 and $0.10 superfecta bet minimums were in place, this strategy allowed many sharp $1 superfecta bettors to take their shot at pool scooping (taking the whole superfecta betting pool) at a reasonable cost, while also giving them numerous combinations that many other bettors simply would not have. This was an especially productive strategy at smaller tracks where the superfecta pools were decent yet not large enough to cover every possible combination.

For example, in a small superfecta betting pool, let’s say you liked horses 2 (3-1), 4 (5-1) and 10 (12-1) in a 10 horse field. You might play a $1 superfecta part wheel 2,4,10 with 2,4,10 with 2,4,10 with all, which would include 42 combinations at a cost of $42.

In the days of pool scooping, you would also play your above three horses with ALL in all remaining spots, to in an effort to cover as many combinations as possible. For example, to key your three main horses with ALL others in all possible spots, the superfecta tickets would be as follows:

• 2,4,10 with 2,4,10 with 2,4,10 with ALL = 42 $1 combinations at a cost of $42
• 2,4,10 with 2,4,10 with ALL with 2,4,10 = 42 $1 combinations at a cost of $42
• 2,4,10 with ALL with 2,4,10, with 2,4,10 = 42 $1 combinations at a cost of $42
• ALL with 2,4,10 with 2,4,10 with 2,4,10 = 42 $1 combinations at a cost of $42

Total cost for 168 of the most probable $1 superfecta combinations = $168

In the above scenario, your three main key horses would all have to finish somewhere in the first four positions, but you would be surprised how many times this simple strategy produces one of the few winning superfecta tickets – and thus a large profit. In fact, in the above scenario, you might also take the whole superfecta pool without having all the correct horses on your ticket.

For example, let’s say the 8 horse at 47-1 wins the race with horse 2 finishing second, horse 4 finishing third and horse 5 finishing fourth. So the order of finish is 8-2-4-5. You’re holding a ticket that reads ALL-2-4-10. So you have the first three finishers but not the fourth. In some cases, because of the small pools and the inability of other bettors to cover all possible superfecta combinations, nobody has a winning ticket on the combination 8-2-4-5. In this case, the whole superfecta pool would be paid out to anyone holding the ticket 8-2-4-ALL – which you have with your ticket that reads ALL with 2,4,10 with 2,4,10 with 2,4,10.

While the above scenario is not as common as it once was since the advent of the $0.20 and $0.10 superfecta minimums, it still occurs on a regular enough basis to make the strategy profitable, assuming you can select the right three horses to finish somewhere in the first four positions.

Another favorite superfecta wagering strategy is to key a pair of horses to finish in certain positions with a number of others. For example:

• 2,4 with 2,4 with 5,6,7,8,9 with 5,6,7,8,9 = 40 $1 combinations = $40
• 2,4 with 5,6,7,8,9 with 2,4 with 5,6,7,8,9 = 40 $1 combinations = $40

Total cost for 80 of the most probable $1 superfecta combinations = $80

In the above scenario you have played the two horses identified by your handicapping as the most probable winners to finish first and second and first and third in the superfecta with your other contenders in the remaining positions at a cost of only $80 (and less if you are able to play $0.20 and $0.10 superfectas).

Contrast this to the lazy bettor’s superfecta box of seven horses (no key horses as determined by handicapping in the above scenario) at a cost of $840. You have reduced your costs by $760 ($840 - $80) while also having a great shot at getting the superfecta.

In he above scenario, let’s say your winning $1 superfecta ticket paid $1,000. If you had played a 7-horse box at a cost of $840 your profit would be $160 ($1,000-$840). With the part key superfecta wheel your profit would be $920 ($1,000 - $80). Which would you rather have?

While you will cash a lower number of winning superfecta tickets using the wheel and part-wheel superfecta wagering strategies, your net profit will be much higher – assuming your handicapping is relatively sound.

Good handicapping is essential, but creativity in structuring your bets to cover the highest number of probable combinations for the least amount of money is the real key to profitable superfecta betting.

Related:
Superfecta Wagering Strategy: The Secret to Scooping Superfecta Wagering Pools

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In-Season Tracks

The Superfecta wager has gained in popularity among horseplayers in the last decade, thanks to the opportunity to make a large windfall with a moderate investment.

In the past several years, the Superfecta betting pools have also grown with the introduction of the 10-cent Superfecta which are available at most racetracks.

The 10-cent Superfecta makes it possible for horseplayers with small bankrolls to play the wager, and the smaller increment also means a horseplayer can avoid paying Uncle Sam a portion.

When a horseplayer hits a $1 Superfecta that returns over $5,000.00, the Internal Revenue Service takes their 26% right off the top.

Smaller payoffs are affected as well. If a horseplayer hits a $1 Superfecta that pays $675.00, cashing the ticket also means picking up a W-2G for gambling winnings.

Best Superfecta Wagering Strategies Payout

If a horseplayer hits that same Superfecta on a 10-cent increment, the payoff is $67.50, and there are no IRS ramifications.

If you punch out two 50-cent tickets with the winning combination, each pays $327.50, and again Uncle Sam does not have his hand out.

It is great to hit a big score, whether you are at the track or doing your online horse Superfecta betting from home, but it is harder than it looks.

Horse Racing Superfecta Betting Tips

Horse race Superfecta betting requires a horseplayer to pick the top four finishers in a race in the exact order, not exactly an easy task.

With exacta wagering, it usually is fairly easy to eliminate several horses in the field that have little chance to finish in the top two positions. In trifecta wagering, it gets more difficult, and in Superfecta wagering it is tough to eliminate any horses, because just about anyone in the field can plop home in the third or fourth position at big odds while being no threat to the winner.

5 Horse 10 Cent Superfecta

Therefore, the key element to being successful at horse race Superfecta betting is structuring your tickets in the proper manner.

One mistake many horseplayers make is to simply box their top four contenders, which on a $1 ticket would be a $24 investment.

A five-horse Superfecta wager would cost a horseplayer $120.00 on a $1 increment.

When boxing four or five horses in this manner, the horseplayer is saying each of the contenders have an equal chance of winning the race.

Sure, you could play a five-horse Superfecta box for a 10-cent increment for $12.00, but the better way to structure the ticket would be to find one or two key horses to use in the win spot, which would give you more of your bankroll to concentrate on the third and fourth spots.

For most players, it is easier to find a winner than it is to figure out which horse is going to complete a Superfecta ticket.

If you could find one horse to key on top of your ticket, that same $24 could be laid out like this:

How To Win Superfectas

1 with 2,3,4 with 2,3,4 with 2,3,4,5,6,7 = $24

You would need your key horse to win, two of your next three contenders to finish second and third, then you would be spread deeper in the fourth spot.

Another way to spend the same $24 would be keying two horses to complete the exacta:

1,2 with 1,2 with 3,4,5,6 with 3,4,5,6 = $24

That would give you four horses to fill out the third and fourth spots.

Superfecta Table Handicapping

With the advent of the 10-cent increment, horseplayers can go even deeper, and use of the “All” button comes into play, even for horseplayers with a limited bankroll.

Best Superfecta Wagering Strategies Against

Keep in mind, playing a 10-cent ticket means your payoff is going to be greatly reduced.

Superfecta Combination Strategy

In a 12-horse field you could key your top two contenders with the field in the third and fourth spot and the cost of the ticket would be $180.00 for a $1 ticket or $18.00 for a 10-cent ticket.

In a race where you have trouble coming up with one key horse, you could lay out your ticket like this:

1,2,3 with 1,2,3,4 with 1,2,3,4,5 with 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

This ticket for $1 would be $189, but just $18.90 for a 10-cent ticket.

Cent Superfecta Method

The key to making a profit in horse race Superfecta betting is to know when a good opportunity exists.