Kentucky Derby 2017 Trifecta Picks, Advice and Tips

The Trifecta Box and Trifecta Part wheel are often overlooked on Derby Day. Many retail bettors instead focus on picking the winning horse. Given the large Kentucky Derby field and lengthy race, this is a fool’s errand.

2017 Kentucky Derby Trifecta Part Wheel Bet

  • Key 1: Classic Empire, Always Dreaming, Gunnevera
  • Key 2: Classic Empire, Always Dreaming, Gunnevera
  • Key 3: Classic Empire, Always Dreaming, Gunnevera, Thunder Snow

Total Cost: $12, $1 per combination

What are Trifecta Boxes and Trifecta Wheels?

Trifecta boxes and part wheels are efficient ways to increase your odds of winning while preserving your bankroll.

Trifecta Box Bet: Pick any number of horses to finish in the top 3 positions. Final order does not matter.

Trifecta Part Wheel Bet: Select horses to key into each position: first, second and third. Final order does matter depending on how you key each horse.

Efficiency Matters

Trifecta Boxes are more likely to win because final order does not matter. A box is less efficient than a wheel because you end up buying more combinations than you need. Trifecta Part Wheels are harder to win because you must select and key horses correctly. However a part wheel is more efficient than a box. You will invest less bankroll to potentially win more money.

Kentucky Derby 2017 Trifecta Betting Advice

I recommend a 4 horse Trifecta Part Wheel, keying 3 horses in the first and second position, then 4 horses in the third. Why?

A 4 horse Trifecta Box costs $24, $1 per combination. But a 4 horse Trifecta Part Wheel using my recommendation is only $12, $1 per combination. You’ll lose the ability to include that fourth horse to finish first or second. However you’ll be making a more efficient bet with higher profit potential. And you’ll be way ahead of the yahoos betting it all on one horse!

Picking 3 horses to finish first, second or third shouldn’t be hard. Plus you get a bonus horse for the third key.
Let’s look at the latest Kentucky Derby Odds to Win, top 10 Horses:

Let’s assemble our Trifecta Part Wheel keys from this table. As of writing, Classic Empire and Always Dreaming are favored to win. So we’ll include them. Now let’s pick 1 more horse for each key, plus a fourth horse for our 4 horse 3rd key. We’ll take Gunnevera and use Thunder Snow as our fourth horse. Thunder Snow faces longer odds, but could conceivably finish third.

2017 Kentucky Derby Trifecta Part Wheel Bet

  • Key 1: Classic Empire, Always Dreaming, Gunnevera
  • Key 2: Classic Empire, Always Dreaming, Gunnevera
  • Key 3: Classic Empire, Always Dreaming, Gunnevera, Thunder Snow

Total Cost: $12, $1 per combination

How to Place a Kentucky Derby Trifecta Wheel Bet?

Visit our recommended online race books below. Wait until the field is set and each horse is assigned a starting position. Fill out your Trifecta Wheel ticket with each horse’s corresponding number. Then sit back and get rich!


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More Trifecta betting information, cost tables and advice:

  1. Trifecta Wheel Betting – Includes trifecta wheel equation, calculations and cost tables.
  2. Trifecta Box Betting – Discussion of Trifecta Box Bet, cost calculation and tables
See Also
Online Horse Betting Sites
Win Place Show Betting
USA Race Book Deposit Methods, Kentucky Derby

Good luck from Ron Halfback and the gang!