The Participation Lineup For the 2024 Preakness Stakes
On Saturday at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Mystik Dan – winner of the Kentucky Derby – is expected to compete for his eighth and final Preakness Stakes victory. Eight horses will participate in this year’s field.
Bob Baffert will have two horses running in the Maryland Derby: Imagination and Catching Freedom. Imagination was forced out of Kentucky’s Derby due to a medical condition; nevertheless she could prove an opponent at Maryland.
Mystik Dan
Mystik Dan is on course to secure another step towards his Triple Crown bid in Saturday’s 149th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course. The horse has early odds of 5/2 with many believing he has what it takes to claim the middle jewel of this crowning achievement.
Kenny McPeek is confident Mystik Dan will replicate his flawless trip in the Derby, which earned him an unprecedented one-horse photo finish win against Sierra Leone. However, Catching Freedom — who finished second at Blue Grass — should pose formidable competition to Mystik Dan and Tuscan Gold will also provide ample competition from Brad Cox’s Chad Brown-trained Tuscan Gold.
Bob Baffert originally planned on fielding two horses in this race; however, Muth was scratched earlier this week due to fever-induced illness and will no longer compete. Instead, his other entry Imagination features 6/1 odds and could finish third or fourth; Mystik Dan’s only previous race on two weeks rest was five furlong sprint, so his success may not necessarily translate.
Imagination
After emerging victorious in an unforgettable photo finish at the Kentucky Derby, Mystik Dan has taken off in the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course as an early favorite to claim victory on Saturday at odds of 5-2. But the Into Mischief colt may find himself challenged during this second leg of the Triple Crown journey.
Muth was scratched after becoming feverish and is currently 9-2 second favorite in this race. That has altered the field considerably and leaves fellow Bob Baffert trainee Imagination as the likely runner-up at 9-2 odds.
Imagination has proven its ability to go gate-to-wire, and with Frankie Dettori aboard there’s every reason for him to set an early pace over this shorter distance race. He ran fourth in the Derby with an excellent 101 Brisnet Speed Rating from that race – more than enough to challenge in this spot! Imagination belongs to a partnership which also owns 2023 Preakness winner National Treasure.
Catching Freedom
Catching Freedom, who finished fourth in the Kentucky Derby, looked energetic during his morning gallops and appears ready for his second race of 2019. Trainer Brad Cox noted his horse is superior than what they showed in Louisville and could prove an asset as he stands as one of many potential winners of his second race of 2018.
Baffert’s sole entry after Muth was scratched is Mystik Dan at 6-1 odds; Chad Brown’s Tuscan Gold checks in at 9-2; Seize the Grey and Mugatu complete the field.
Imagination’s pedigree makes him a formidable opponent, with Constitution being an accomplished Grade 1 winner and his paternal grandfather Tapit a Triple Crown champ. Catch My Drift’s sire is Pioneerof the Nile who has made his name siring stakes horses both North and South America; her dam, Catch My Drift is by Pioneerof the Nile himself who is an outstanding sire of stakes horses worldwide; its outside post in this eight-horse field should suit Imagination well as well as his stalking style is perfect.
Just Steel
Mystik Dan is currently the odds-on favorite to win the 2024 Preakness Stakes, while longshots Like Just Steel and Seize the Grey offer intriguing value as longshots. Both horses have been training hard in preparation for running at Pimlico over a mile and a quarter distance; both also show strong form from previous races with Hall of Fame Trainer D Wayne Lukas having won six times at Pimlico himself; Just Steel comes trained by Hall of Fame Trainer D Wayne Lukas as well as strong form from recent races; including Just Steel! Hall of Fame trainer D Wayne Lukas is bringing two horses – one belonging to himself; just Steel will run with him alongside another horse that he brought two year’s Preakness 6x winner, including this year’s Just Steel as his second entry this time with both horses coming under his tutelage this time round as part of D Wayne Lukas’ six wins at Pimlico this time will run two horses from him with him being brought by D Wayne Lukas himself bringing two horses from D Wayne Lukas’ stable of course also comes into the spotlight with two horses on his two entries this time round which include Just Steel who ran strong last time and came second place finisher on this year’s Preakness six times before D Wayne Lukas won six times! He brought two horses from just Steel’s trainer D Wayne Lukas’ camp: Seize The Grey being brought by Hall- Wayne Lukas who won twice- Wayne Lukas’ team this time alongside Just Steel from Hall- Wayne Lukas’ six wins being brought his Hall- Wayne Lukas himself this time who also. One being brought by legendary Hall- Wayne Lukas himself being brought by Hall- Wayne Lukas who has just Steel being trained by Hall Of course two to him six time as trainer D Wayne Lukas who has won This year as Just Steel to compete alongside Just Steel to race himself this time-winning trainer D Wayne Lukas also from D Wayne Lukas who has one being brought Two horses from D Wayne Lukas himself brought two horses D Wayne Lukas with one who himself, Hall-TWO Wayne Lukas who’s two to joins who himself brings him from two just One Trainer D Wayne Lukas who won from trainer D Wayne Lukas who’ six times himself from where Hall Lukas who brought two horses by D Wayne Lukas who was six times- one won from his raced like Lukas who had just Steel himself three! He himself six time won from D Wayne Lukas this time for This time too: Just Thens with one another his two just came bringing two, amongs who won this time before too his Six times before Lukas too has twice before (five other D Wayne Lukas which later race himself! Wayne Lukas who already won before Lukas (Wayne Lukas for D Wayne Lukas before Lukas!, too bringing D Wayne Lukas who won his six times! 6!! so one too. Lukas from six. Lukas six.). D Wayne Lukas (Winner D Wayne Lukas himself (Wayne! 6! Lukas (Just Steel too!) This year too) this time will also brought just steel). Hall Of course will bring two. Lukas). Hall Of course also brought just Steel). Just later too as in fact!!!) who brings just One! (V). He brought Justs with One More Than Lukas himself too
Just Steel, who finished 17th in the Kentucky Derby but ran much better according to his 95 Beyer speed figure, is one of his main contenders at Pimlico Race Course this weekend. Consider placing him as part of an exotic bet such as an exacta or trifecta wager for increased payouts.