4 horse exacta box?

[dav4463]

Does it ever work? 3rd race at Calder today 12/30/03, only four horses in the race....exacta pays $39.60 !

Back to the original question though, does anybody ever use a four horse exacta box when the matchups look even and the odds are generous?

[Zaf]

That is an anomaly. Most of the time you will lose on that proposition. There are many who believe that the 3 horse exacta box is a lousy play.

ZAFONIC

[Dave Schwartz]

I use it all the time, when the dutch odds on my 4 contenders equals or exceeds the break-even odds on those 4 contenders.

In other words, if the 4 horses projected win pct was 75% and the dutch odds are greater than .33:1 it is a play.

Dave SChwartz

[dav4463]

How about keying the longest odds of your top four horses in exacta boxes with the other three, when you see them as even on paper? Seems like it would be better than the four horse box I guess, since the best payoffs occur when that bomb you like a little bit hits the board in a wide-open race.

[alysheba88]

Generally its a very poor play. However I have caught a few nice Kentucky Derby exactas going six deep in boxes. Can see sometimes on BC day too with the monster prices but thats about it

[JustRalph]

Originally posted by alysheba88 (MW)
Generally its a very poor play. However I have caught a few nice Kentucky Derby exactas going six deep in boxes. Can see sometimes on BC day too with the monster prices but thats about it

I hope you mean War Emblem and Proud Citizen..... I am still kicking my own ass for having $50 across on War Emblem and not having Proud Citizen under him in the Exacta..........

If I recall that sucker paid a grand or more.........

[Dave Schwartz]

Dazve,

Imagine that my 4 contenders are:

2/1
8/1
12/1
14/1

How would you bet these?

I would box them all.

Dave

[Valuist]

I usually part wheel my exactas but I believe there are instances when a 4 horse box can be a good play. If I feel the favorite is definitely overbet but I don't have any real strong positive plays, I'll sometimes do a 4 horse box to take advantage of my dislike for the chalk. I also think that you need a big field (a minimum of 10 betting interests) to make it worthwhile.

[dav4463]

2-1 8-1 12-1 14-1

Assuming I like them in that order, I would probably play the 2 and 8-1 over the 12 and 14-1 ...then a 2-1 over 8-1 straight and a 2-1 with 8-1 box..........Then a smaller box of the 3 highest odds..

[Dave Schwartz]

So, if the 2/1 runs second you get nothing?

[dav4463]

You are right, probably a 4 horse box would be worth it in this case. If though, I really like the top two horses to win, I would probably play them on top with the others underneath. I am still trying to learn how to play the exacta properly. It really gets me when I play the exacta, check the results and see that I had the trifecta as well, but did not play it....This could get dangerous though, when I start checking superfecta results !

[alysheba88]

The point that needs to be made is that the when you make an odds line for win it is not the same as saying these are the horses I will use in exactas or trifectas. There are horses I think can win or run out of the money. Especially when two of your contenders are speed horses.

Conversely will not use a hanger on the win end but can include on tris.

Would never consider a 4 horse box if one of my horses was 2-1.

[Pace Cap'n]

Jim Lehane has written and posted on his web site a very interesting article on wagering strategies, including exactas.


www.free-horseracing-info.com/wagering.html

[dav4463]

thanks for that link...good information

[ranchwest]

Originally posted by JustRalph
I hope you mean War Emblem and Proud Citizen..... I am still kicking my own ass for having $50 across on War Emblem and not having Proud Citizen under him in the Exacta..........

If I recall that sucker paid a grand or more.........

Ouch! Old wound! Proud Citizen was my last elimination. That's OK, I got it back with Magic Weisner.