Superfecta keys: Saturday plays at Parx, Churchill Downs

A 10 cent superfecta is a leveraged wager if you select one horse you believe will finish in one of the top four positions. The table below summarizes the reduction in outlays for superintecta wagers when you key one runner essentially boxing it with four to seven other runners. The key strategy requires you to ensure that your keyed horse finishes in the first two positions to maximize the return.

The conditions for betting interests are: at least nine entries but not more than 12, the ability to confidently key a horse that is not an odds-on or a heavily bet favorite, field with runners ignored in the pool and the possibility to be in top four randomly. The Saturday card at Parx provides three opportunities on dirt and one on turf.

The Cotillion Stakes (G1) at a mile and one-sixteenth on the dirt for 3-year-old fillies attracted a field of nine. Chad Brown saddles No. 5 Gerrymander, while Todd Pletcher has three runners. The field has combined for an in the money rate of four of every five starts overall and nearly a 90 percent rate at the distance. No 1 Green Up has won four out of five races. No 8 Morning Matcha is trained by Parx-based trained Robert Reid Jr. She has a good record of winning four races in five tries.

The Play.10 Superfecta Key 5 with 1, 3, 6 and 8 is worth $9.60. Saturday plays at Parx, Churchill Downs.

The Pennsylvania Derby (G1) is a mile and one-eighth dirt race for 3-year-olds. There is nearly a full field of 11 horses, two of them trained by Brad Cox and Saffie Joseph Jr. One of the horses is being trained for the first time by a new trainer. The field has combined for an in the money rate of two out of every three starts. No. 1 Zandon is the most impressive late runner in this race. No 10 Naval Aviator is going to be passing horses late. Cyberknife is also a solid player at odds of 6-1.

The Play.10 Superfecta Key 1 with 5, 7, 8 and 10 is worth $9.60. Saturday plays at Parx, Churchill Downs.

The Alphabet Soup Handicap is a mile and one-sixteenth turf race for state-bred 3-year-olds and up. There is one new trainer and two runners trying turf for the first time. The field has combined for an in the money rate of three in five starts overall and three of four at the distance. No. 1 Buy Land and See is the probable favorite. No 6 Midnight Hauler has two wins in two starts at a distance both at Penn National and looks like a solid off the pace threat. Mr. Crisper has the fewest starts in a field with 8.

The Play.10 Superfecta Key 4 with 1, 3, 6 and 8 with total wager of $9.60 plays at Parx, Churchill Downs.

The Bourbon Trail Stakes is a dirt race for 3-year-olds. There is one runner stretching out to a route of ground. The field has combined for an overall in the money rate of greater than one in two starts overall. War Campaign is going to move late and have to pass runners. Saint Tapit is trying a turf marathon for the first time. No. 2 Home Brew has four wins in five tries on fast surfaces. Bill Mott saddles No., 7 Gilded Age. The Play is $9.60 Superfecta Key 5 with 2, 3, 7 and 8.