Our Handicapping Wins - Preakness Trifecta Follows Kentucky Derby Exacta

by Inside Florida Horse Racing Staff
May 19, '14

If you made our suggested Kentucky Derby and Preakness bets you almost tripled your money via some hedge betting.  

Inside Florida Horse Racing’s Triple Crown handicapping has produced a winner in both races, with a combined profit 2.7 times our suggested bets - and we owe it largely to second place finishers Commanding Curve and Ride on Curlin. 

Our predictions blogged Satuday on the Preakness Stakes included a winning $1 trifecta box of California Chrome, Ride on Curlin and Social Inclusion.  That $6 bet paid $38.00 and helped produce a total payoff of $65.60 on $42 in bets - for a 56 percent return on investment. 

That followed our Kentucky Derby bets of $46 that returned $170, all on a $1 exacta box with five horses that included favorite California Chrome and the 37-1 shot Commanding Curve. 

Through these two races, our $88 in betting has paid $235.60. That is  a 167 percent return on investment, also  calculated as a return 2.67  times the money bet, using a hedge betting strategy. 

Our Preakness predictions, posted Saturday morning, had two $1 exacta boxes.  Both came through, and both paid $9.10 with California Chrome and Ride on Curlin. 

Unfortunately, one of those bets was a $1 exacta box with  five horses for a $20 outlay. We had California Chrome, Ride on Curlin and three other horses. We knew that the $1 payoff  probably would pay less than our $20 wager if California Chrome won. But the payoff would be very good if California Chrome did not win or finish  second. We were ahead because of a similar Derby bet, so we figured “let’s try it  again.”  

We hit the Preakness trifecta with a box that numerous bettors used. But as noted below,  we predicted it cold.

Our other Preakness bets were $2 to Place and Show on Ride on Curlin and on Kid Cruz, who came in eighth. Ride on Curlin paid $5.60 and $3.80. 

For the Preakness, our predicted order of  finish was:  California Chrome, Ride on Curlin, Social Inclusion, Kid Cruz.  That fell through  when General a Rod came in fourth.  We did not have a superfecta in our recommended bets. 

Our handicapping is based on a hedge-type strategy for a bettor who can spend about $40. Naturally and caveat emptor, it can be used with bets larger than $1 and $2.Our next handicapping will be for the Belmont Stakes on June 7th. Starting June 15th we will handicap each Saturday’s feature stakes race at Gulfstream  Park, or at Calder Casino &  Race Course. Stay tuned for a summer of racing.