Mystik Dan won the Kentucky Derby in a three-way photo finish and is now favored to win the 2024 Preakness Stakes. Will Mystik Dan also win the second leg of horse racing’s prestigious Triple Crown?
2024 Preakness Stakes Event Information
What: 149th Preakness Stakes
Where: Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore, MD
When: Saturday, May 18, 2024
Watch: NBC and Peacock (coverage begins at 4:30 p.m. ET)
Post Time: 6:50 p.m. ET
2024 Preakness Stakes Betting Odds
Mystik Dan is the current favorite at 5/2 odds, followed by Catching Freedom and Imagination at 6/1 odds, respectively. Tuscan Gold is 8/1, followed by Just Steel and Seize The Grey at 15/1, respectively. The two long shots are Mugatu and Uncle Heavy, who are both 20/1, respectively. Muth has been scratched.
2024 Preakness Stakes Predictions
Catching Freedom finished fourth in the Kentucky Derby and has been in every race he’s competed in since 2023. He won the 2024 Smarty Jones on New Year’s Day, then placed third in the 2024 Risen Star before winning the 2024 Louisiana Derby. While he didn’t win at Churchill Downs a few weeks back, he has what it takes to finish strong today at Pilmico.
PLACE: Just Steel (15/1)
Just Steel had a terrible run at Churchill Downs, where he finished 17th. He also had a dud in the 2024 Rebel Stakes, where he finished seventh on February 24. That said, he has competed in most of his 2024 outings. He finished second in the 2024 Smarty Jones, second in the 2024 Southwest Stakes and second in the 2024 Arkansas Derby. The contender that won this year’s Arkansas Derby? Muth, who has been scratched ahead of tonight’s race. Despite his performance at the Kentucky Derby, Just Steel has already proven he can compete with Mystik Dan, as he did at the Arkansas Derby. At this odds, I’m rolling the dice.
SHOW: Mystik Dan (5/2)
Mystik Dan won the Kentucky Derby, which was his second win in 2024 after also claiming the 2024 Southwest Stakes on February 3. That said, he finished third to Muth and Just Steel on March 30 in the Arkansas Derby and came in fifth to Catching Freedom and the aforementioned Just Steel in the 2024 Smarty Jones on January 1. What I’m suggesting is that Mystik Dan had a great run at Churchill Downs a few weeks ago. That said, I don’t think this is some unbeaten force. He’ll place, but I don’t see Mystik Dan claiming victory tonight at Pilmico.