How do you put together an exotic ticket?

[fishorsechess]

I remember long ago I read an article in the Daily Racing
Form about a professional horseplayer. He only played
exotic bets. He would play partial wheels for trifectas and
one way exactas. However when I confronted a mutuel
clerk at Hollywood Park, he stated the most common way
of playing the trifectas is win horse on top of 2 or 3 place
horses without reversing. And lots of show horses
for the show slot. What is the most common way people
at the track play exactas, trifectas, triples and DD's? Maybe
you can learn how to beat these types of bets by betting
contrary to the way most people bet. I heard baseballs
(playing all combo of 3 horses) are one of the worst
bests because you are giving equal weight to all horses.

[dav4463]

If I can really narrow down a key horse in a trifecta...I will play 1 w 23456 w 23456 or 1 w 234 w 2345 or 1 w 234 w 234 something like that depending on my opinions for second and third. Another way I like is to have 2 key horses...one for win, one for place/show at 8-1 or higher odds....Then I will play 1 w 2 w 34567 and 1 w 34567 w 2....2 being my second key horse....or if I really like a longshot at 10-1+ odds... I like to key him in all 3 spots with 3 or 4 other horses.