Pick 3
 

I'm having a hard time lately hitting my pick 3's. I did well at Gulfstream and maybe I got to cocky or over confident, but I'm slumping bad, and I'm starting to doubt my strategy. Lately I find myself playing a lot of 2-2-1 for $5, or 1-1-2 for 10$.... I'm wondering if I should just be trying to cash tickets at this point and get going a bit before Saratoga?

I would like everyone to discuss there own personal strategy, if they have one. Do you guys have rules you follow? I have always wondered if I should put some rules on paper and stick to them. Things like no more then $30 for a 1$ ticket, no more then 4 horses in a race, maybe every pick 3 you play you need a single in. Things like that. Is that a good or bad idea? Then I ask myself, why set rules? Some of my biggest hits have been 1-2-all plays, or 2-2-all and a 2-2-all would break 2 of my rules. I know a lot of people on this website love the pick 3 and I thought this could be a good discussion. Does anyone have rules they stick to, do you guys just wing it? Do you need a single to attack a sequence? Do you use the all button? Everyone's opinion is wanted, except Indian Charlie. Thanks

Although i hardly ever play the pik 6, i think that i kinda use the same kind of theory as Christ when playing most pik 3s or pik 4.But mostly when playing the pik 4.
I will never say i dont use the all button, but that has to be ONLY when i have 2 singles in the pik 4. I have gotten burnt a few times when using lets say 7 in a 10 horse race.
Playing the pik 4 for more than lets say, 60.00 is kinda crazy to me. But when the track has a .50 cent wager, i might tend to end up having a initial nice size spread ticket, and then repeat with the main horses i really like.
I heard that Del Mar will have the 50 cent play, which i like, because i am not a serious player at the track, but do enjoy watching a few from that place.
Singles in those type of plays are very imp[ortant to me.

I like to try and load up a Pick 3 where I can go AGAINST an odds on favorite with an alternative single. Something like a 1-2-3 for $10, $60 total, or even a 1-2-2 for $15, also a $60 total.

Lots of value finding a 5-2 single in a six horse field where the may be an even money shot.

Doesn't happen tons, but when it does, you get payed like a Pick 4. $120 pick 3 X 5 = $600 sounds good to me.

Good luck!

I used to only play pick 4's and was hitting only about 1/15.... I have not played pick 4's on a regular basis in a while, I found the pick 3 to be a better wager and did REALLY WELL AT GULFSTREAM.

I try really hard to get a single in one race and depending on the other two races I try to limit them to 3 horses/race. That keeps me to 1X3X3. Very seldom do I go 2X3X3. Only if I really see some good value. I prefer pick 3's over pick 4's.

So you try hard to have a single, but its not a stone cold rule that you will follow? Im wondering if I should make rules and follow them or not.

Its not a rule but I try to do it at least 90% of the time. I figure if I can't find one winner out of three races then I may pass on the pick 3. Like I said earlier I will deviate if I see value in picking 2X3X3. I'm all for having a strict plan but sometimes you have to be able to be slightly flexible while maintaining a budget and maximizing cash reward.

pick3
 

1,2 / 1,2,3 / 1,2,3,4,5 = $30

2 horses - 3 horses - 5 horses



1,2,3 / 1,2,3 / 1,2,3 = $27

3 horses - 3 horses - 3 horses



1,2 / 1,2,3 / 1,2,3,4 = $24

2 horses - 3 horses - 4 horses



1,2 / 1,2 / 1,2,3,4,5 = $20

2 horses - 2 horses - 5 horses



1,2 / 1,2,3 / 1,2,3 = $18

2 horses - 3 horses - 3 horses



1 / 1,2,3,4 / 1,2,3,4 = $16

1 horse - 4 horses - 4 horses



1,2 / 1,2 / 1,2,3 = $12

2 horses - 2 horses - 3 horses



1 / 1,2,3 / 1,2,3 = $9

1 horse - 3 horses - 3 horses



1,2 / 1,2 / 1,2 = $8

2 horses - 2 horses - 2 horses



1 / 1,2 / 1,2 = $4

1 horse - 2 horses - 2 horses



1 / 1 / 1,2 = $2

1 horse - 1 horse - 2 horses

I don't think you can have any set rules other than a $$$ amount you want to spend on a sequence. For conversation sake lets say $36. I try to find a race that I have a strong opinion on a short priced favorite I like and a horse I think can win under the right situation. Depending on he other races I might go 4x3x2 for $1. Than I will back up my original ticket with a larger ticket for $2-$5 often singling the short priced favorite. If my opinion is correct I cash the bigger ticket and if my 2nd choice beats the short priced horse it often pays very well.

I have found what races I do better on are main track races that don't have a ton of 1st time starters. I try to find sequences that have at least 2 of these races. That is why I started a thread earlier this week looking for a few good resources for pedigree help because I really struggle with 1sters

Formulator, click the dams name....
Thats really all I use, Im sure there is much better though

that would make a sweet signature!

Where are you playing your pick 3's at since GP?

7/11? lol


just kidding ten...

Everywhere... Belmont, Aqu and Keeneland mostly... I splash around with Hollywood a bit.
The last big one I hit was when Fly Down blew Drosselmeyer away... I went 5-2-2, I also used Carnivore with Fly Down, tossed the Belmont winner. I cought Lezcano at like 5-1 in first leg, Fly Down, and I went 2 deep in last and ran 1-2 with the MUCH BIGGER PRICE WIRING. I think it was Cayo Hueso...

Personally, I try to avoid multi race bets... 1 late scratch can ruin you. The turf scratches that happen at Belmont and Aqueduct once spring arrives and turns into summer can be brutal.

Keeneland is a tough track. They have big fields and most races are very competitive.

If I were to play the multi-race tickets, I would try to do so where the fields are fairly large, and void of scratches more times than not.

I don't have a rigid set of rules and adapt as needed, but I usually play 3 tickets when rolling for action.
1x3x3
3x1x3
3x3x1

That's 27 combinations with a single in each leg. The single doesn't necessarily mean the most likely, but whatever I like the best. If you can hit 2 of the singles in any 3 race series, you are open to three on 2 of the 3 tickets.

I will not play a pick 3 if I like a favorite in one of the legs.

I will put every horse that can win in a ticket, but only if the ticket costs about $30. Sometimes I add a ticket with only my win bets, say A/AB/A.

Sometimes I will make multiple tickets, especially if the minimum is $.50.

If I like ABC/ABC/ABC I will play if for the minimum unit. Then I play A/ABC/ABC and ABC/A/ABC and ABC/ABC/A. If A wins all three races I win 4 times. But if C wins all three races I still win once. And none of the ABC horses are favorites.

Works for the $50 pick 4 too.

In other word I have no set rules for structuring any bet, except cost per possible payout.