After one of the most exciting Kentucky Derby finishes in recent memory, the horse racing world turns its attention to Pimlico Race Course for the 149th running of the Preakness Stakes.
Will Mystik Dan continue his Triple Crown dream?
Let’s look at everything you need to know ahead of this year’s Preakness Stakes and who you should consider betting on to win the second leg of the Triple Crown.
Preakness Stakes Horses, Position Draws, & Odds
Horse racing lines are current as of Wednesday, May 15, and courtesy of FanDuel Racing.
- Mugatu, 20-1
- Uncle Heavy, 20-1
- Catching Freedom, 6-1
Muth, SCR- Mystik Dan, 5-2
- Seize The Grey, 15-1
- Just Steel, 15-1
- Tuscan Gold, 8-1
- Imagination, 6-1
Scratched from Preakness Stakes
As of Wednesday, May 15, Muth has been scratched from the Triple Crown race at Pimlico Race Course on Saturday.
When is the 2024 Preakness Stakes?
The 149th Preakness Stakes is set to begin at 7:01 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 18, 2024.
The race will be held at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, as it is every year.
Preakness Stakes Prediction to Win/Place/Show
No. #5 Mystik Dan to Win (5-2)
Only eight horses are slated to run the Preakness Stakes this year, continuing the trend of having a much smaller field compared to the Kentucky Derby.
While Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan might be a boring pick, it should be the right one.
Mystik Dan is the only horse in the race with over a 100-speed figure, and while he only won the Derby by a nose over Sierra Leone and Forever Young, he won’t see either of them at Pimlico this weekend.
Despite this race being a little longer, Mystik Dan’s talent and speed should be enough to outlast the field again, setting up a Triple Crown opportunity at the Belmont Stakes this year.
Back the favorite as your best horse racing bet today.
No. 3 Catching Freedom to Place (6-1)
Catching Freedom finished fourth in the Derby two weeks ago against a far better field.
While the winner, Mystik Dan, is also running at Pimlico, neither the second or third-place horses are in the Preakness field.
Catching Freedom doesn’t have the speed of Mystik Dan, but he should have enough to make it interesting down the stretch, especially if he doesn’t make a major move until the final turn.
No. 8 Tuscan Gold to Show (8-1)
Tuscan Gold didn’t run in the Derby, but he has competed alongside many of the biggest names from it, narrowly losing to many of them.
I expect the newcomer to make a push in this smaller field and finish inside the top three.
He is trained by Chad Brown and will be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, so he has the experience and pedigree behind him to make a great run at Pimlico.
🐎 Find out how to bet on the Preakness online.
Preakness Stakes Longshot Pick
No. 7 Just Steel to Win (15-1)
Just Steel was a popular name floating around ahead of the Derby, but he performed poorly. However, he will now have famed jockey Joel Rosario on his back.
Stamina could be an issue here, as he’s never won a race longer than 6.5 furlongs. But if he saves his energy until the last quarter, we could see a surprise rebound showing from Just Steel and his new jockey.
Past Preakness Stakes Winners
2023: National Treasure
2022: Early Voting
2021: Rombauer
2020: Swiss Skydiver
2019: War of Will
2018: Justify
2017: Cloud Computing
2016: Exaggerator
2015: American Pharoah
2014: California Chrome
