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. Superfectas are enticing because they can produce huge payouts. Let’s look at how to bet superfectas and some examples.
Straight Superfecta
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.
Superfecta Boxes
Boxing all horses in the superfecta is not only cost-prohibitive; it is also A $1 6-horse superfecta box covering 360 combinations would cost you $360 (6 x 5 x 4 x3). 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.
$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
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.
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.
$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