Kentucky Derby weekend is a holiday around these parts, and at Xpressbet and 1/ST BET we’re celebrating with our newest promotion, our incredibly popular Exacta-Thon.
In fact, for Derby weekend, we’re upping the ante to a $50,000 Churchill Downs Exacta-Thon, split among players on Friday and Saturday who hit Exacta bets throughout the day. Here’s how we’re divvying up the prize pool:
• $20,000 is split between everyone who hits 6+ Exactas ($2 base minimum) at Churchill on Friday, May 3
• $20,000 is split between everyone who hits 6+ Exactas ($2 base minimum) at Churchill on Saturday, May 4
• $5,000 Bonus is paid to or split between the player/players who hit the most Churchill Exactas ($2 base minimum) on Friday, May 3
• $5,000 Bonus is paid to or split between the player/players who hit the most Churchill Exactas ($2 base minimum) on Saturday, May 4
To get you started, here are $164 in my suggested Exacta plays for Oaks Day. Play along with me (or play against me!) and take some chances in the other races. Remember, it’s a race to six in the Exacta-Thon and you’ll get paid whether you crush the first six races, or if you need all 13 to hit your six-pack.
Friday’s forecast calls for some rain, so we’ve handicapped with that in mind.
RACE 2 (11:00AM ET) // ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING
#11 SEDONA (5/1) was visually impressive winning on debut at Gulfstream in early-March, but the horses that finished behind him that day haven’t one much to validate the effort. Interesting that the pilot that day, Jose Ortiz, opts for #9 SIDAMARA (4/1) instead. In a 12-horse field where nobody is lower than 4/1 on the ML, you can take a bigger Exacta shot knowing the probables will be favorable to whichever combination is a winner.
$2 Exacta: 7, 9, 12 / 1, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 ($36)
RACE 5 (12:43PM ET) // G1 LA TROIENNE STAKES
We took a big stab in the first, so let’s be much more focused in what may be the day’s most straightforward race, the G1 La Troienne, featuring the seasonal debuts of #4 IDIOMATIC (6/5), #5 PRETTY MISCHIEVOUS (5/2) and #6 XIGERA (3/1). That trio amassed an incredible 21-17-3-0 record in 2023. It’s almost hard to picture one of them missing the Exacta here. Let’s lean on IDIOMATIC to get the job done. She has a pace advantage over the group and, not for nothing, we know a wet track doesn’t bother her. Payout won’t be big if she wins, but it’s a box-checked on our journey for six winning Exactas.
$2 Exacta: 4 / 5, 6 ($4)
RACE 7 (2:09PM ET) // G2 ALYSHEBA STAKES
This is a fun little race, with the 1-2-3 finishers from last fall’s G2 Clark - #10 TRADEMARK (6/1), #3 FIRST MISSION (8/5) and #5 IL MIRACOLO (10/1) – rekindling their Churchill rivalry. #7 TAPIT TRICE, a veteran of last year’s Triple Crown (7th Derby, 3rd Belmont) makes his seasonal debut after being off since the Travers. The potential breakout horse continues to be FIRST MISSION, who won the G3 Essex last out with ease.
$2 Exacta: 3 / 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 10 ($12)
RACE 9 (4:04PM ET) // G2 EIGHT BELLES STAKES
Brad Cox seems to have the right combo here, with #1 IMPEL (5/2) and #7 DENIM AND PEARLS (3/1) poised to give him his fourth trophy in this race since 2017. Each exits a strong performance – IMPEL losing no luster in defeat to top KY Oaks contenders Leslie’s Rose and Just F Y I in Keeneland’s G1 Ashland and DENIM AND PEARLS a devastating 9+ length winner of Keeneland’s G2 Beaumont. Let’s play those two on top and try for more coverage underneath.
$2 Exacta: 1, 7 / 1, 3, 7, 9, 10, 11 ($20)
RACE 10 (4:51PM ET) // G2 EDGEWOOD STAKES
No matter how I slice it, I think this is a two-horse race between #4 BUCHU (4/1) and #9 HARD TO JUSTIFY (2/1). The latter, a Breeders’ Cup winner, and the former, unbeaten on the lawn in Kentucky (3-for-3). We can use a few others to potentially fill-in underneath, maybe #6 POUNCE (10/1) or #10 DYNAMIC PRICING (12/1), but with a 14-horse field, we can expect a decent price, even if the Exacta isn’t exactly creative.
$2 Exacta: 4, 9 / 4, 6, 9, 10, 13 ($16)
RACE 11 (5:51PM ET) // G1 KENTUCKY OAKS
It’s Oaks Time and this year’s field is big and loaded with talent. Let’s take a shot. #15 OUR PRETTY WOMAN (15/1) draws in off the AE list and adds pace to a race that was already going to be aggressive up front. I’m enamored with a pair of longshots - #3 WHERE’S MY RING (15/1) {pictured above} and #9 EVERLAND (30/1) and I want to play something that gets them into the mix. I’ve had better strategies, but this is about cashing tickets, and I hope we can get this one here.
$2 Exacta Box: 3, 5, 8, 9, 13 ($40)
RACE 13 (7:02PM ET) // MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT
The ‘get out’ race will be our last chance to get that sixth Exacta on the card, if we aren’t there already. And again, we’re blessed with a big field and plenty of options. #8 PRINCESS MADISON (5/2) is a tpic ML favorite. She ran nice enough on debut, but nothing earthshattering, even with a sub-optimal trip. Let’s use her, but really take a look at #2 CHILLED, who woke up with Lasix last out and gets the anti-bleeding medication again here.
$2 Exacta: 2, 3, 8 / 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 12 ($36)
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