Pimlico Race Course in Maryland is the site of the Preakness Stakes every year, coming in just a few weeks after the excitement of the Kentucky Derby.
The Preakness represents the second jewel in the Triple Crown of horse racing, a somewhat mythical title that is given to the winner of the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the upcoming Belmont Stakes.
Only 13 horses have won the Triple Crown since the late 1800s. Can Derby winner Mystik Dan take a step closer to winning the 2024 version?
Bovada’s got all the Preakness Stakes odds and a full preview of the May 18th race day, so you’ll know how you can play horse racing’s next biggest day. Read on for more.
LATEST ODDSView the latest Odds at Bovada.
Mystik Dan +190
After his Derby win by a nose in the first three-horse photo finish at Churchill Downs since 1947, Mystik Dan now has three wins, a second and a third-place finish in seven starts.
If that finish and that resumé don’t seem too favorable for his Preakness Stakes odds, you’re not alone. Oddsmakers also know that Muth, the Preakness favorite, beat Mystik Dan by 6 ¼ lengths in the Arkansas Derby at the end of March.
Still, with a top trainer like Kenny McPeek, the savvy jockeying of Brian Hernandez Jr., and the tempting allure of the Triple Crown still hanging in the balance for just one horse in the field, Mystik Dan could be the man.
Imagination +400
Another Baffert-trained horse in the Preakness, Imagination, could make winning a reality this year.
Imagination has never finished lower than second place in his six career races. His Santa Anita Derby second-place finish in April was a solid statement, finishing just a neck behind the winner stronghold.
If you’re a Baffert believer, the odds that one of his two strong horses finishes the Preakness in the top spot might be worth the wager.
Tuscan Gold +400
A bit of a dark horse – pun intended – is coming into this year’s Preakness Stakes. Tuscan Gold has just three races in his young career, including winning his maiden at Gulfstream Park earlier this year in his second career start. This leaves him as something of an intriguing mystery for bettors.
Tuscan Gold ran a respectable third behind Catching Freedom and Honor Marie at the Louisiana Derby. Both those horses were highly regarded entrants in the Kentucky Derby, so Tuscan Gold is in good company – especially with top trainer Chad Brown in his stable.
Just Steel +1100
Coming off a Kentucky Derby where he set the pace before fading to 17th place, Just Steel might be looking for redemption at Pimlico.
It helps that he’s got legendary trainer D. Wayne Lukas in his corner as well. With six Preakness titles under his belt, he’s got the pedigree to go along with Just Steel’s strong lineage. Coming off a second-place finish in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby (ahead of Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan), Just Steel’s Preakness Stakes odds look perfect for a value bet.
Seize the Grey +1200
Another D. Wayne Lukas entrant into the Preakness, Seize the Grey, is fresh off a win at Churchill Downs at the Pat Day Mile Stakes (a G2 race). It was his first stakes win. He also won in his second career outing at Saratoga last July as a 2-year-old, before trying stakes competition and finishing fourth in Churchill Downs (Grade 3).
If lineage is a factor in playing your Preakness odds, consider that Seize the Grey was sired by legendary grey Hall of Famer Arrogate, who turned in seven straight first-place finishes at the peak of his career.
Uncle Heavy +1600
This larger-than-normal horse (over 16 hands) has created a reputation as a latecomer, often coming on later in a race as the frontrunners get tired. Running from the stalking position earned him a win at the Wait For It Stakes in late December and a win at the Jerome Stakes in early February.
He was on track to qualify for the Kentucky Derby this year, but his trainer decided to rest him for the Preakness. This could mean some extra gas in the tank compared to several other horses with better Preakness Stakes odds.
Mugatu +3500
Quite likely the only horse to be named after a character from the movie Zoolander, Mugatu is a long shot to take the Preakness crown.
While movie fans might love the name, horse racing oddsmakers are less excited about Mugatu’s chances. He did win back in November but hasn’t entered the winner’s circle since then and has missed the top two in his last seven races. He did finish fifth in the Grade 1 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland in April, so he knows what it’s like to run against big competition.
ADDITIONAL BETS
If you like Mystik Dan’s chances in both the Preakness and the Belmont, we’ve got a line for the Triple Crown winner too. At +1600 odds of the Triple Crown being won this year heading into the Preakness, Mystik Dan might just be the man.
Check back often at Bovada’s leading racebook to see the different wagers and all the latest odds as the horse racing season continues to pick up steam.
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