For me, one main attraction to superfectas is that a superfecta probable payout pool is not displayed making this bet an unknown endeavor relative to an exacta and even trifectas in some circumstances where the probable payouts are available. However, if you observe the pool results over a long period of time, you will come to realize the heavily wagered upon runners tend to be over bet in the superfecta pool and when outsiders come in especially in the top two positions, explosive payouts might result.

This is why a 10 cent superfecta is a great leveraged wager if you select one runner you strongly believe will land in any one of the top four positions.

Get Power Picks for this weekend's races

The table below summarizes the reduction in your outlays for superfecta wagers when you key one runner essentially boxing it with four to seven other runners.

# OF BETTING INTERESTS IN SUPER WAGER BOX KEY $ DIFFERENCE % DIFFERENCE 5 $12.00 $9.60 $2.40 20% 6 $36.00 $24.00 $12.00 33% 7 $84.00 $48.00 $36.00 43% 8 $168.00 $84.00 $84.00 50%

There are books out there and it is common logic that the box wager makes no sense unless all horses are valued equally by the handicapper. Without getting too technical here, it is obvious if you have an opinion on a race, a straight box of any sort makes little sense.

The superfecta key strategy illustrated above requires you to ensure that your keyed horse finish in one of those top four positions. To maximize return, I am looking for three conditions to create potential for a high payoff.

• Betting interests of 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 that has runners seemingly ignored in the pool that would be at very high odds at post time but could be in the top four randomly.

The Saturday card at Saratoga provides three opportunities on dirt and turf and Del Mar provides one opportunity on turf.

A full field of 12 allowance runners 3-year-olds and up will contest this 5.5 furlong turf sprint including four runners coming in off the claim three of which are trying turf for the first time along with one runner trying a turf sprint for the first time. Eight runners exit turf races including seven at Saratoga and one at Monmouth with the balance of the field exiting dirt races including three at Saratoga and one at Finger Lakes. The field has combined for an in the money rate of one in two starts overall and at the distance. There is a moderate amount of speed with runners combining for a lead at the second call one in every eight starts for races that show. I anticipate a slow pace with the advantage to forwardly placed runners.

No. 7 Custom Bobby’s has finished in the top four nine of his last ten starts with three different trainers across both dirt and turf races. This runner clearly always shows up regardless of who trains him, tends to run in the forward part of the field, and current trainer Jose Camejo has a very good overall 2022 and Saratoga meet record. This runner has two in the money finishes at the distance and is your key runner at odds of 6-1.

Linda Rice sends out No. 6 Leddy off the claim a runner who is trying turf for the first time, has some tactical speed who cuts back in distance. This runner has shown improvement across four starts and this is only his second start as a 3-year-old coming in off his maiden breaking score last time out at six furlongs on the dirt. He is 15-1.

George Weaver sends out No. 5 King Moonracer who is as consistent as they come with eight top four finishes in his last 10 starts and two in the money finishes in three starts at the distance. He should grind his way to a top four finish at odds of 8-1.

No. 4 Blinding Light is off the claim for Jeffrey Englehart who has solid trainer numbers and this coupled with the fact that this runner has only two starts both in the money suggest upside with one victory at the distance at Saratoga last time out. He will be near the lead and is 4-1.

The likely betting favorite is No. 11 Mister Chairman who has two turf starts including a maiden breaking score last time out at this distance at Saratoga for Christophe Clement after coming in second on debut. Similar to No. 4 Blinding Light he has upside potential as a lightly raced runner and will be coming from the middle of the field in the latter stages of the race.

$.10 Superfecta Key 7 with 4, 5, 6 and 11. Total wager: $9.60.

This six furlong optional claimer on the dirt for 3-year-olds and up attracted a field of 10 including one two horse entry and includes two trained by Robertino Diodoro with one of his runners as part of the entry. Five runners have new trainers largely off the claim. The entire field exits dirt races including five at Saratoga, and one each at Delaware, Belmont, Churchill, Colonial and Dubai (Meydan). The field has combined for an in the money rate of better than one in two starts overall and nearly three in four starts at the distance. The runners have combined for a lead at the second call one in six tries for races that show. I expect a moderate to fast pace with the advantage to forwardly placed runners.

Dallas Stewart sends out No. 7 Hoist the Gold who comes out of two consecutive tough races a stake at Churchill where he finished second and the Amsterdam (G2) at Saratoga where he finished up the track. The competition is much softer here, he is fast enough to compete, is a grinder and has attractive odds of 15-1 as your key runner.

No. 4 Cost Basis is coming in off the claim for George Weaver has speed, will be on or near the lead and has been in the money over half the time boasting a top four record of eight times in his last ten starts. He is well worth inclusion at odds of 10-1.

No. 9 Meraas is making his first start in the U.S. and has not been seen since two consecutive wins in Dubai at Meydan both runs at the about distance of six furlongs. He has been working extremely well suggesting speed and is well worth inclusion at odds of 6-1.

No. 1 Greeley and Ben and No. 1a Amundson are a very formidable entry with No. 1 Greeley and Ben boasting a record of 20 of 22 at the distance for new trainer David Jacobson and No. 1a Amundson similarly showing an in the money record of eight of 11 at the distance for new trainer Robertino Diodoro. Either runner could do it and combined it is difficult to not include these runners as one of the betting favorites

Bill Mott sends out the probable favorite and the horse with the fewest starts in the field No. 5 Elite Power who comes out of two wins in a row at Churchill Downs and is a close to the pace type with four top four finishes in five dirt starts.

$.10 Superfecta Key 7 with 1/1a, 4, 5 and 9. Total wager: $9.60.

A field of 11 will face off in this mile and one sixteenth turf optional claimer for 3-year-olds and up, including two each trained by Chad Brown and Mike Maker. The entire field exits turf events except one coming out of a synthetic race. Last out turf tracks include five at Saratoga, two at Belmont and one each at Monmouth, Churchill and Laurel with the final runner exiting the synthetic race at Gulfstream. The field has combined for an in the money rate of one in every two starts overall and at the distance. Runners have combined for a lead at the second call one of every six starts for races that show. I expect a fast pace with the advantage to mid pack runners and closers.

No. 4 Sanctuary City is a deep closer who does not win much, has eight top four finishes in his last 10 starts, and will be visually impressive in the stretch off the anticipated fast pace. He fits really well here as your key runner at odds of 6-1.

One of the Chad Brown runners is No. 5 Graded On a Curve who has eight placings in 11 lifetime starts, is a grinder but not deep closer and is attractively priced at odds of 8-1 which looks like an overlay here.

No. 7 Soulmate does not have a very good record with nine placings in 30 lifetime tries and has been in the top four five of his last 10 starts. The fast pace he will chase puts him in the mix late to inherit a top four placing as the speed drops off at long odds of 20-1.

No. 6 Monition is one of the speedier runners in the field but his debut win was impressive coming from seventh to notch a win and while he may be on or near the lead that race coupled with his likelihood of improvement in this his seventh career start makes him a strong player at odds of 8-1.

No. 10 Eyes On Target is a strong contender in this field off a seven of nine lifetime turf record and a pressing running style. This runner has demonstrated tractability winning from near the lead or well out of it at the second call. He will be one of the lower priced runners.

$.10 Superfecta Key 4 with 5, 6, 7 and 10. Total wager: $9.60.

The Del Mar Handicap (G2) is a turf marathon contested at the distance of a mile and three eighths and this year’s edition attracted a field of 11, including four runners trained by Phil D’Amato. Six runners come out of Del Mar turf races, four Del Mar dirt races and the final runner exits a Santa Anita turf event. The field has combined for an in the money rate of well over one in two starts overall and nearly two out three at the distance. These runners have combined for a lead at the second call under one in 10 tries for races that show and one runner has the vast majority of those leads. I anticipate a solid pace with the advantage to forwardly placed runners.

No. 1 Dicey Mo Chara trained by Leonard Powell who has been having a tough meeting has one run in a turf marathon and it was a solid second in a graded event. He has a pressing style and a six of ten lifetime record on the turf. This four-year-old has some room for improvement and is your key horse at odds of 15-1.

Jack Sisterson saddles No. 5 Tango Tango Tango a grinder who is six of eight on the turf with his two off the board finishes in a graded stake and a million dollar race in New York. He looks like one of the 4-year-old runners that could improve at attractive odds of 20-1.

No. 6 Tizamagician has one turf try in 22 lifetime starts and that was an off the board finish as a 3-year-old at one mile at Del Mar. His strong early speed and proven ability to go a marathon distance on the dirt as the runner with the majority of leads at the second call support his inclusion at odds of 4-1.

No. 10 Masteroffoxhounds one of the Phil D’Amato runners has strong tactical speed and should be near the lead. He ran extremely fast in his last start in a mile and one eighth Del Mar turf graded stake and faded in that effort. I expect the pace to be substantially slower here and he should be around at the end at odds of 6-1.

The probable favorite is No. 9 Master Piece who will not be near the pace early and should close from mid-pack and will probably fall short as a solid top four factor with a lifetime turf record of nine placings in 16 lifetime starts.

$.10 Superfecta Key 1 with 5, 6, 9 and 10. Total wager: $9.60.