Breeders’ Cup Friday: Betting for big payoffs with budget-friendly exotic wagers

Want to win big on a small budget? 

The Breeders’ Cup is always a great opportunity for bettors with limited capital to chase huge payoffs.

The quality of competition ensures that very talented horses start at enticing prices in the betting. Hitting a single trifecta might be all you need to enjoy a profitable weekend.

With this strategy in mind, we’ve constructed a pair of $25 trifecta plays for Breeders’ Cup Friday at Keeneland. Our goal will be to cash at least one four-figure payoff while spending just $50.

Race 6: Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2, 2:30 p.m. ET)

American 2-year-olds are known for their blazing speed out of the starting gate, which is one reason why European shippers have struggled in the first two editions of this 5 1/2-furlong dash. For our trifecta play, we’ll take a stand against the raiders entirely and key #14 Golden Pal (8-5) on top.

Although the wide draw is a concern for Golden Pal, his 3 1/2-length victory in Saratoga’s Skidmore S. during the summer was excellent, as he carved out a quick pace before kicking on strongly down the stretch. Trainer Wesley Ward is a master at conditioning juvenile sprinters, and Golden Pal has been specifically targeting this race for months. He’s a logical winner at a short price.

Underneath, we’ll emphasize front-running Indian Summer S. winner #10 Bodenheimer (8-1) and Futurity (G3) runner-up #9 After Five (6-1), requiring at least one to finish in the money.

• $1 trifecta: 14 with 9,10 with 5,7,8,9,10,11,12,13 ($14)
• $1 trifecta: 14 with 9,10 with 5,9,10 ($4)
• $0.50 trifecta: 14 with 5,7,8,9,10,11,12,13 with 9,10 ($7)
• Total: $25

Race 7: Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1, 3:10 p.m. ET)

In sharp contrast to the Juvenile Turf Sprint, the Juvenile Turf have been largely dominated by Europeans, with international raiders claiming eight of 13 renewals. Thus, we’ll keep the percentages on our side and favor international shippers in the trifecta.

Vintage (G3) winner #9 Battleground (9-1) is bound to attract support for trainer Aidan O’Brien and jockey Ryan Moore, who have teamed up to win this race four times. But I’m more intrigued by Royal Lodge (G2) winner #2 New Mandate (12-1), who handled a tight turn at Sandown just fine when decisively winning a 7-furlong handicap.

The tight course at Keeneland shouldn’t be an issue for New Mandate, and drawing post 2 will allow the bay gelding to save ground early on under 14-time Breeders’ Cup-winning rider Frankie Dettori.

Let’s key New Mandate for first and second place in the trifecta. For the remaining slots, we’ll emphasize Battleground and #6 Mutasaabeq (5-1), who looms as the best American hopeful after unleashing an explosive rally to win Keeneland’s Bourbon (G2) by 2 1/4 lengths.

• $1 trifecta: 2 with 6,9 with 1,5,6,9,11,12 ($10)
• $1 trifecta: 6,9 with 2 with 1,5,6,9,11,12 ($10)
• $0.50 trifecta: 2 with 1,5,6,9,11,12 with 6,9 ($5)
• Total: $25

Good luck!