Key Wheeling in a Superfecta Bet 
Key-wheeling in a superfecta bet means selecting a key horse in a fixed position, usually first, and wheeling any number of other horses in multiple combinations to finish in the remaining positions, usually second, third, and fourth. If the 1 is key-wheeled with the 2, 3, and 5, the combinations of 1-2-3-5, 1-2-5-3, 1-3-2-5, 1-3-5-2, 1-5-2-3, and 1-5-3-2 are covered. As long as the 1 is the winner and any combination of the numbers 2, 3, and 5 are second, third, and fourth, the key-wheeled wager is a winner. The more numbers used with the key-wheeled selection, the greater the number of possibilities covered. However, the more numbers used, the greater the cost to cover the wager.

 

# of choices with key selection # of combinations $ amount of bet Cost of bet
3
6
$1 ($2)
$6 ($12)
4
24
$1 ($2)
$24 ($48)
5
60
$1 ($2)
$60 ($120)
6
120
$1 ($2)
$120 ($240)
7
210
$1 ($2)
$210 ($420)
8
336
$1 ($2)
$336 ($672)
9
504
$1 ($2)
$504 ($1008)
10
720
$1 ($2)
$720 ($1440)
11
990
$1 ($2)
$990 ($1980)
12
1320
$1 ($2)
$1320 ($2640)
13
1716
$1 ($2)
$1716 ($3432)

 

A simple rule to remember to compute the cost of a key-wheeled superfecta wager would be as follows: the number of horses to be boxed with the keyed selection MULTIPLIED by the next lowest number MULTIPLIED by the next lowest numbeMULTIPLIED by the dollar amount of the wagerEXAMPLE: A key-wheeled superfecta wager using 4 choices with the key-wheeled selection for $2 would be computed 4 (number of horses boxed with the key-wheeled selection) x 3 (next highest number) x 2 (next highest number) x (dollar amount of the wager) = $48.