The 151st Kentucky Derby is here. One hundred and fifty-one years of watching poetry in motion have all led to this. Champions have been crowned and made the bedrock of the sport’s foundation. Kentucky Derby odds payouts have been decided by inches.
To salute those legends of years past (and continue to line the pockets of my bookmaker in the present day), I’m going to make $151 in Kentucky Derby trifecta bets. Hopefully, this turns out well.
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Kentucky Derby trifecta picks
First things first, No. 8 Journalism (3-1) is the horse everyone’s buzzing about. He’s the only one in the field with three graded-stakes wins and comes in hot as the favorite amongst all 20 Kentucky Derby horses. He’s got the class, the form, and the right running style to be a must-use on top. Although I think he’s slightly overrated, as I have backed another horse in my early Kentucky Derby predictions, I still have to respect him here.
No. 18 Sovereignty (5-1) is right there as a top contender in my books. He’s got a sharp closing kick and has been super consistent all spring. If the pace gets hot, watch for him to be flying late with my top pick to win the 151st Kentucky Derby, Sandman.
No. 17 Sandman (6-1) just won the Arkansas Derby in style, showing off both tactical speed and the ability to finish strong. He’s peaking at the right time and should be right in the thick of it. Gods be good he breaks well from his Kentucky Derby post position, doesn't get jammed up or end up going five-wide, and comes flying home the strongest.
"Stop eating chalk, you downtrodden fool!" Oh, I see, you're looking for some value, eh?
If No. 7 Luxor Cafe (15-1) runs the way he should, you might just be able to afford a Nintendo Switch 2. I consider him to be one of my favorite long shots.
He’s won four straight, including a five-length romp in Japan’s Fukuryu Stakes, and he’s got the American Pharoah pedigree to love the Derby distance. He’s been in Louisville for over a week and looked good to my eye, so I think it's safe to say, in my best Stu Feiner voice, that he’s “ready to roll.”
No. 9 Burnham Square (12-1) is another sneaky play. He’s been knocking on the door in some key prep races and could hit the board at a price.
Other long shots I’m mixing into my tickets:
- No. 21 Baeza (12-1): He's a lightly raced horse with a pretty decent bloodline. In his debut race at Santa Anita, Baeza looked like he could've run for another half mile. Obviously, this is a huge step up for him, but I wouldn't be shocked if he turns some heads.
- No. 14 Tiztastic (20-1): He has the right style to pick up the pieces if the pace melts down and should be nicely priced. Of course, we're asking a lot out of this colt, but hey, anything is possible.
- No. 3 Final Gambit (30-1): Pure chaos play, but eh, it’s the Derby and I'm feeling like I might just get lucky tonight.
$1 trifecta:
- To win: Journalism, Sovereignty, Sandman, Luxor Cafe
- Second: Journalism, Sovereignty, Sandman, Luxor Cafe, Burnham Square
- Third: Journalism, Sovereignty, Sandman, Luxor Cafe, Burnham Square, Baeza, Tiztastic, Final Gambit
$1 trifecta:
- To win: Journalism, Sovereignty, Sandman
- Second: Journalism, Sovereignty, Sandman, Luxor Cafe
- Third: Journalism, Sovereignty, Sandman, Luxor Cafe, Burnham Square
$1 trifecta:
- To win: Journalism, Luxor Cafe
- Second: Journalism, Luxor Cafe, Burnham Square
- Third: Journalism, Luxor Cafe, Burnham Square, Baeza
$0.50 trifecta:
- To win: Journalism, Sovereignty, Sandman, Luxor Cafe
- Second: Burnham Square
- Third: Journalism, Sovereignty, Sandman, Luxor Cafe
$2 straight trifecta (no horses get boxed, picks must finish in this order):
- To win: Sandman
- Second: Final Gambit
- Third: Luxor Cafe
Total: $151
Kentucky Derby betting resources
- Kentucky Derby Win, Place, Show predictions
- Kentucky Derby AI predictions
- Kentucky Derby underdogs & sleepers bets
- Kentucky Derby Trifecta, Superfecta & Exacta predictions
- Kentucky Derby horses
- Kentucky Derby odds
- How to bet on the Kentucky Derby
What is a trifecta?
Well, my trusty padawan, the trick of it is that you have to pick the first three horses in the exact order they finish. The minimum bet is 50 cents per combo, but you can mix and match to cover your bases. You can also "box" horses to finish in certain positions. Be prepared for the ticket price to increase as you add more selections, especially if you plan on boxing multiple horses.
Kentucky Derby betting FAQs
Yes. There are a number of legal and authentic online racing books, which allow you to withdraw funds directly to your bank account.
There was a record $165.5 million bet on the 2019 Kentucky Derby. That was a 10 percent increase from 2018 which held the previous record of $149.9 million.
The lowest Win bet you can make is for $2. For the exotics, depending on where you play, many offer a 0.10 Superfecta wager at some betting locations.
You can bet on the upcoming Kentucky Derby as early as the day after the prior year's Derby. As the Kentucky Derby is limited to three-year-olds only, the early favorites are the horses having standout two-year-old campaigns.
You can place your wagers until the gates open. Once you hear, “and they're off" the window is officially closed. Soak up as much information in the post parade and loading the gate as you can. Knowledge is power.
With a Superfecta bet you are selecting the top four finishers in the race in order.
