The Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course is an annual spotlight on the North American racing calendar. Because the second jewel of racing’s Triple Crown sequence for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds, the 1 3/16-mile grime race as a rule pits the winner of the Kentucky Derby Offered by Woodford Reserve, held two weeks prior on the primary Saturday in Might, towards contenders making an attempt to finish his (or hardly ever, her) Triple Crown quest.
In fact, the Preakness is an historic race in its personal proper as a Grade 1 stakes, gained by 13 horses that went on to take the Belmont Stakes Offered by NYRA Bets and the Triple Crown in addition to a number of different elite athletes, a lot of which earned champion honors on the Eclipse Awards.
For 2024, the purse of the Preakness Stakes has been boosted to $2 million, and the race kicks off a three-race sequence of Grade 1 stakes at tracks owned by 1/ST with a $5 million prize granted to any horse that wins all of them. The race will probably be held for the 149th time – one fewer than the Kentucky Derby even though the primary version in 1873 was held two years sooner than the primary Derby, as a result of there was no Preakness from 1891 to 1893. The Preakness will function the spotlight of a sensational two-day sequence of races at Pimlico surrounded by tens of hundreds of festive followers that flock to the Baltimore monitor for playing, meals, drink, vogue, and infield concert events.
On Saturday, Might 18, Kentucky Derby upset winner Mystik Dan wheels again on two weeks’ relaxation to face a formidable area of opponents, led by Muth, winner of the Arkansas Derby in March when he defeated Mystik Dan by 6 ¼ lengths. The Preakness Stakes will probably be televised dwell on NBC and streamed on Peacock, with a scheduled submit time of roughly 6:50 p.m. ET.
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Get to know the 2024 Preakness Stakes contenders under:
1. Mugatu (20-1 morning-line odds)
Jockey: Joe Bravo
Coach: Jeff Engler
House owners: Common Joe Racing Stables and Dan Wells
Profession file: 12 begins – 1 win – 1 second – 3 thirds
Profession earnings: $80,570
Earnings per begin: $6,714
High Equibase Pace Determine: 96
Pedigree: Blofeld – Union Manner, by Union Rags
Colour: Chestnut
Working model: Nearer
Notable achievements and fascinating details: Mugatu was listed because the second also-eligible entrant for the Kentucky Derby Offered by Woodford Reserve, and moved as much as first after one horse scratched and Epic Experience drew into the race. He remained on the surface wanting in, nevertheless, and now’s pointed to the Preakness after incomes a career-best Equibase Pace Determine in his 12th profession begin, a 96 when ending fifth within the 1 1/8-mile Toyota Blue Grass Stakes. Mugatu was no risk to the highest 4 finishers within the Blue Grass as he made up some floor within the stretch however nonetheless checked in 7 ½ lengths behind winner Sierra Leone and a size again of fourth-place Dornoch. He had completed eighth and fourth in his two prior races earlier than the Blue Grass – each listed stakes on Turfway Park’s all-weather floor – and his solely profession win got here final November on an all-weather monitor at Gulfstream Park. Coach Jeff Engler has expressed confidence in the best way Mugatu has skilled over the previous month, however the truth stays that he’s overmatched towards this area primarily based on his race file and velocity figures. He’ll must submit a career-best effort to hit the board, and a best-case state of affairs might see him fill out the superfecta if a speedy horse comparable to Muth runs his nearest foes ragged and Mugatu passes a few them late.
Preakness Historical past: Engler and Mugatu’s house owners are making their Preakness debuts, and veteran jockey Joe Bravo will make his sixth look.
Wager Mugatu within the Preakness Stakes
2. Uncle Heavy (20-1)
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Coach: Robert Reid Jr.
House owners: Michael Milam and LC Racing
Profession file: 5 begins – 3 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Profession earnings: $323,580
Earnings per begin: $64,716
High Equibase Pace Determine: 95
Pedigree: Social Inclusion – Count on Great, by Tiz Great
Colour: Bay
Working model: Nearer
Notable achievements and fascinating details: Pennsylvania-bred Uncle Heavy missed the qualifying factors cutoff restrict for the Kentucky Derby Offered by Woodford Reserve this 12 months and as an alternative will try to drag the upset within the Preakness. He’s a superb guess to go off at excessive odds Saturday after ending a distant fifth in his prior race, the 1 1/8-mile Wooden Memorial Stakes Offered by Resorts World On line casino, the place he was compromised by an out of doors submit, raced large all through, after which needed to verify within the stretch when one other horse unseated his rider. In his race earlier than the Wooden, Uncle Heavy rallied to win the 1 1/8-mile Withers Stakes by a nostril and earn a 96 Equibase Pace Determine. If Uncle Heavy can recapture that kind and maybe bump his velocity score up a couple of factors, he has a shot at spicing up the trifecta or superfecta payout, though Pimlico’s speed-favoring monitor might work towards his come-from-behind operating model. Getting the companies of reigning Eclipse Award-winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. to journey Uncle Heavy for the primary time is a plus.
Preakness Historical past: Ortiz has completed second twice within the Preakness from 5 prior starters, together with aboard Blazing Sevens final 12 months. This the primary Preakness look for coach Butch Reid. Co-owner LC Racing was part-owner of two prior Preakness horses in recent times.
Wager Uncle Heavy within the Preakness Stakes
3. Catching Freedom (6-1)
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Coach: Brad Cox
Proprietor: Albaugh Household Stables
Profession file: 6 begins – 3 wins – 0 seconds – 1 third
Profession earnings: $1,127,350
Earnings per begin: $187,892
High Equibase Pace Determine: 107
Pedigree: Structure – Catch My Drift, by Pioneerof the Nile
Colour: Bay
Working model: Nearer
Notable achievements and fascinating details: Coach Brad Cox advised reporters Might 12 that Kentucky Derby Offered by Woodford Reserve fourth-place finisher Catching Freedom would return off of a short two-week break and begin within the Preakness Stakes. That announcement provides to the luster of Preakness 149, which now has six graded stakes winners in its 10-horse area, 4 of which – Mystik Dan, Muth, Creativeness, and this colt – have been listed excessive in most 3-year-old rankings for months. Catching Freedom entered the 150th Kentucky Derby off of a rallying rating within the Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby and was despatched off because the 8.47-1 fourth betting alternative in a area of 20. Breaking one spot outdoors of Mystik Dan within the fourth submit place, he settled in behind that foe for many of the race whereas saving floor and likewise benefited from that journey as he continued on strongly by way of the stretch, checking in only one ¾ lengths out of first. Catching Freedom rallied large in each his Louisiana Derby win and his win within the Smarty Jones Stakes again in January, however he responded with a career-best 107 Equibase Pace Determine when racing on the within within the Kentucky Derby and it could not be shocking to see Preakness-winning jockey Flavien Prat navigate the same journey Saturday, maybe settling a bit nearer to projected early leaders Muth and Creativeness by way of the backstretch. This long-winded runner apparently got here out of the Kentucky Derby in good order and is an upset risk to win the Preakness if Muth and Creativeness get caught up in a velocity duel and if Mystik Dan hasn’t recovered totally from his most effort within the Derby.
Preakness historical past: Brad Cox is searching for his first Preakness win, however the Eclipse Award-winning coach had success along with his first two starters, ending third and fourth in 2019 with Owendale and Warrior’s Cost, respectively. Flavien Prat gained the Preakness in 2021 aboard Rombauer, his solely mount previous to this 12 months.
Wager Catching Freedom within the Preakness Stakes
4. Muth (8-5)
Jockey: Juan Hernandez
Coach: Bob Baffert
Proprietor: Zedan Racing Stables
Profession file: 6 begins – 4 wins – 2 seconds – 0 thirds
Profession earnings: $1,504,100
Earnings per begin: $250,683
High Equibase Pace Determine: 115
Pedigree: Good Magic – Hoppa, by Uncle Mo
Colour: Bay
Working model: Press the tempo
Notable achievements and fascinating details: It’s a testomony to this colt’s means that he’s the morning-line favourite in a Preakness area that features the Kentucky Derby Offered by Woodford Reserve winner. That standing is predicated on each his general file and his final race, a visually spectacular two-length win over Simply Metal on March 30 within the 1 1/8-mile Arkansas Derby, by which Mystik Dan completed 6 ¼ lengths again in third. The Good Magic colt, together with all different Bob Baffert-trained horses, was ineligible to compete within the Kentucky Derby, and now he heads to Saturday’s traditional well-rested and able to fireplace. Muth gained the Arkansas Derby the best way he gained each the American Pharoah Stakes final fall at 1 1/16 miles and the seven-furlong, one-turn San Vicente Stakes – by sitting simply off of the tempo after which taking on at will underneath common jockey Juan Hernandez. He earned a 115 Equibase Pace Determine within the Arkansas Derby, the most effective within the Preakness area, and he ought to relish Pimlico’s speed-favoring grime monitor in a race that, except for stablemate Creativeness, lacks early velocity. If Muth breaks sharply, it could not be a shock to see Hernandez let him seize the lead after which shift into cruise management by way of the backstretch; however, he might additionally let Muth draft behind Creativeness for the primary half-mile or so and provides him his cue getting into the far flip. Mystik Dan, Creativeness, and Catching Freedom are definitely elite racehorses, and some different Preakness entrants have engaging potential, but when Muth can repeat or enhance on his Arkansas Derby effort he’ll be powerful to beat.
Preakness Historical past: Hernandez makes his Preakness debut as he and Muth try so as to add to Bob Baffert’s file of eight winners on this race following Silver Allure (1997), Actual Quiet (1998), Level Given (2001), Struggle Emblem (2002), Lookin At Fortunate (2010), American Pharoah (2015), Justify (2018), and Nationwide Treasure final 12 months. Amr Zedan owned Baffert-trained Medina Spirit, who completed first within the Kentucky Derby in 2021 however was disqualified attributable to a medicine violation, an occasion that spurred Churchill Downs to ban Baffert and his horses from the Derby for 3 years and counting. Medina Spirit subsequently completed third within the 2021 Preakness Stakes.
Wager Muth within the Preakness Stakes
5. Mystik Dan (5-2)
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.
Coach: Ken McPeek
House owners: Lance Gasaway, 4 G Racing, Daniel Hamby III, and Valley View Farm
Profession file: 7 begins – 3 wins – 1 second – 1 third
Profession earnings: $3,741,360
Earnings per begin: $534,480
High Equibase Pace Determine: 110
Pedigree: Goldencents – Ma’am, by Colonel John
Colour: Bay
Working model: Stalker
Notable achievements and fascinating details: Coach Ken McPeek introduced Might 11 that the Kentucky Derby Offered by Woodford Reserve winner would try and win the Triple Crown and run again in two weeks within the Preakness, and the general public rejoiced on the information. Fact be advised, this colt and his connections are straightforward to admire – McPeek and jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. are longtime mainstays on the Kentucky racing circuit, his possession group paid solely a $10,000 stud payment to breed their mare Ma’am with Goldencents, and Mystik Dan himself is clearly one of many quickest racehorses in his age group. However is he the quickest? The Preakness ought to go a great distance towards proving his mettle, as Mystik Dan will sq. off towards a colt that defeated him by 6 ¼ lengths again in March and has been getting ready for this race ever since. In that race, the Arkansas Derby, Mystik Dan didn’t get the dream rail journey he acquired when successful the Southwest Stakes in February and the Kentucky Derby two weeks in the past, however he nonetheless tried laborious after having to swing 4 large within the stretch and take purpose on runaway winner Muth and second-place Simply Metal. After the beginning gate opens Saturday, Hernandez and his responsive mount ought to safe a superb early place to stalk after which have interaction Muth and possible tempo companion Creativeness popping out of the far flip. Count on one other recreation effort from Mystik Dan within the Preakness, and if his valiant nostril victory within the Kentucky Derby didn’t take an excessive amount of out of him, the second jewel of the Triple Crown is inside attain.
Preakness Historical past: Ken McPeek gained the 2020 Preakness with the filly Swiss Skydiver… in October, when this race was third within the Triple Crown sequence attributable to postponements attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic. McPeek has additionally completed third twice from seven prior starters. Hernandez was aboard one among McPeek’s third-place horses, Artistic Minister in 2022, and has additionally made three different Preakness appearances.
Wager Mystik Dan within the Preakness Stakes
6. Seize the Gray (15-1)
Jockey: Jaime Torres
Coach: D. Wayne Lukas
Proprietor: MyRacehorse
Profession file: 9 begins – 3 wins – 0 seconds – 3 thirds
Profession earnings: $619,938
Earnings per begin: $68,882
High Equibase Pace Determine: 93
Pedigree: Arrogate – Good Purchasing, by Good Strike
Colour: Grey or roan
Working model: Stalker/nearer
Notable achievements and fascinating details: Seize the Gray joins Simply Metal from D. Wayne Lukas’ barn for a fast turnaround journey to the Preakness after competing on Might 4 at Churchill Downs. Whereas Simply Metal was a part of the early tempo within the Kentucky Derby Offered by Woodford Reserve earlier than tiring, Seize the Gray authored a career-best efficiency 4 races earlier on the cardboard, rallying to win the Pat Day Mile Stakes Offered by SAP by 1 ¼ lengths. He responded effectively to chopping again to a one-turn mile within the Pat Day Stakes after ending a distant seventh within the 1 1/8-mile Toyota Blue Grass Stakes in early April, and proved greatest towards a robust area of 3-year-olds, together with runner-up Nash and third-place Vlahos. Seize the Gray has put collectively a strong profession by way of 9 begins, together with a win in a 1 1/16-mile, two-turn allowance-optional claiming race at Oaklawn Park earlier this 12 months and a third-place end to Endlessly and West Saratoga within the 1 1/8-mile Jeff Ruby Steaks in late March when he was solely a head out of second. Nonetheless, his Equibase Pace Figures have plateaued within the mid-90s vary throughout his 3-year-old season, and that’s about 10-15 factors decrease than what will probably be required to win the Preakness primarily based on the race’s historical past. Search for him to be rallying from a stalking spot underneath first-time Preakness jockey Jaime Torres with a shot to fill out the superfecta if the early tempo seems to be quick.
Preakness Historical past: D. Wayne Lukas has six Preakness wins from a file 46 starters: Codex in 1980, Tank’s Prospect in 1985, Tabasco Cat in 1994, Timber Nation in 1995, Charismatic in 1999, and Oxbow in 2013. “The Coach” has additionally completed second twice and third 5 instances.
Wager Seize the Gray within the Preakness Stakes
7. Simply Metal (15-1)
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Coach: D. Wayne Lukas
House owners: BC Stables and Harry Schmueckle
Profession file: 12 begins – 2 wins – 4 seconds – 1 third
Profession earnings: $724,545
Earnings per begin: $60,379
High Equibase Pace Determine: 112
Pedigree: Justify – Irish Lights, by Fastnet Rock
Colour: Bay
Working model: Stalker
Notable achievements and fascinating details: Simply Metal wheels again in two weeks for a begin within the Preakness after ending 17th within the 1 ¼-mile Kentucky Derby Offered by Woodford Reserve. He broke effectively and vied for the early lead in Derby 150 and stayed in rivalry by way of the backstretch, however then fell again halfway by way of the second flip and ended up besting solely three horses. That disappointing effort adopted his career-best race primarily based on velocity figures, when he completed second by two lengths to Muth within the 1 1/8-mile Arkansas Derby on March 30. Simply Metal earned a 112 Equibase Pace Determine in that race, 15 factors larger than his earlier greatest determine at age 3, and he completed 4 ¼ lengths away from third-place finisher and subsequent Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan. It’s honest to query if that Arkansas Derby efficiency and velocity determine was an outlier relative to this colt’s true expertise degree – he often places forth a superb effort, however each of his wins have are available in dash races regardless of a stamina-oriented pedigree, and he has not likely challenged the successful horse in his three runner-up finishes this 12 months (second additionally to Catching Freedom within the Smarty Jones Stakes and to Mystik Dan within the Southwest Stakes). Joel Rosario, who rode Simply Metal 5 instances as a juvenile in 2023 and was aboard for each of his wins, will get the task for the primary time this 12 months. Count on Rosario to take Simply Metal again off of the early tempo and to settle him in a stalking place on Saturday.
Preakness Historical past: Corridor of Fame coach D. Wayne Lukas, 88, has saddled a file 46 Preakness starters, successful the race six instances with Codex in 1980, Tank’s Prospect in 1985, Tabasco Cat in 1994, Timber Nation in 1995, Charismatic in 1999, and Oxbow in 2013. He’s additionally completed second twice and third 5 instances. Rosario, who will probably be inducted into the Racing Corridor of Fame this summer time, has had 9 prior Preakness mounts, ending second 4 instances and third as soon as.
Wager Simply Metal within the Preakness Stakes
8. Tuscan Gold (8-1)
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
Coach: Chad Brown
House owners: William Lawrence, Walmac Farm, and Stonestreet Stables
Profession file: 3 begins – 1 win – 0 seconds – 1 third
Profession earnings: $147,100
Earnings per begin: $49,033
High Equibase Pace Determine: 96
Pedigree: Medaglia d’Oro – Valadorna, by Curlin
Colour: Bay
Working model: Stalker
Notable achievements and fascinating details: This well-bred colt is an intriguing longshot contender in Preakness 149 with loads of upside having made solely three prior begins. He gained his second race and 3-year-old debut, a 1 1/16-mile allowance-optional claiming race, by 6 ¼ lengths again in late January after which was elevated to stakes firm virtually two months later for a begin within the Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby. Tuscan Gold outran his 11.20-1 odds within the 1 3/16-mile Louisiana Derby, overcoming an out of doors submit to get a superb place racing in third by way of the backstretch after which participating pacesetter Monitor Phantom as soon as the sphere turned for house. That pair was overtaken by closers Catching Freedom and Honor Marie, who rallied from effectively off the tempo by way of the center of the stretch, however Tuscan Gold stored preventing and edged Monitor Phantom for third by three-quarters of a size, ending 1 ¾ lengths behind winner Catching Freedom. Each Catching Freedom and Honor Marie got here again to run effectively within the Kentucky Derby Offered by Woodford Reserve (fourth and a troubled eighth, respectively), and a colt who completed sixth within the Louisiana Derby, Antiquarian, got here again to win the 1 1/8-mile Peter Pan Stakes Might 11. Tuscan Gold bumped his Equibase Pace Determine from 83 in his allowance win to 96 within the Louisiana Derby, and the same transfer ahead can provide this colt an upset probability within the Preakness. Search for Tuscan Gold to affix Mystik Dan within the second flight behind Muth and Creativeness by way of the primary half-mile earlier than jockey Tyler Gaffalione urges him into rivalry.
Preakness Historical past: Gaffalione gained the 2019 Preakness Stakes aboard Struggle of Will and has had two different mounts. Coach Chad Brown has tallied two wins on this race already from solely six starters: Cloud Computing in 2017 and Early Voting in 2022. Brown-trained Blazing Sevens completed second by a head to Nationwide Treasure in final 12 months’s Preakness. Stonestreet Stables co-owned two of the most effective Preakness Stakes winners of this century, each of which had been honored as Horse of the Yr as 3-year-olds: Curlin (2007) and Rachel Alexandra (2009). One other of Tuscan Gold’s co-owners, William Lawrence, co-owned the aforementioned Cloud Computing in 2017 together with Seth Klarman of Klaravich Stables.
Wager Tuscan Gold within the Preakness Stakes
9. Creativeness (6-1)
Jockey: Frankie Dettori
Coach: Bob Baffert
Profession file: 6 begins – 2 wins – 4 seconds – 0 thirds
Profession earnings: $406,800
Earnings per begin: $67,800
High Equibase Pace Determine: 104
Pedigree: Into Mischief – Magical Feeling, by Empire Maker
Colour: Bay
Working model: Press the tempo
Notable achievements and fascinating details: Creativeness has but to complete out of the exacta in six profession begins, with two wins and 4 runner-up efforts, and three of these second-place finishes have come by a neck. He checks all of the containers as a quintessential Bob Baffert-trained risk to win a Triple Crown race: sterling pedigree (by prime sire Into Mischief), excessive yearling value ($1.05 million) for a well known partnership, excessive cruising velocity coupled with stamina, and a fighter when challenged. That stated, this spring Creativeness has performed third fiddle behind two different 3-year-old Baffert trainees which were much more spectacular: the currently-sidelined Nysos and Muth, who will be part of Creativeness within the Preakness. Creativeness efficiently stepped as much as stakes firm in his two most up-to-date begins, successful the 1 1/16-mile DK Horse San Felipe Stakes by a head over stablemate Wine Me Up in early March after which gamely battling Stronghold within the 1 1/8-mile Santa Anita Derby April 6 earlier than yielding by a neck (Stronghold subsequently completed seventh within the Kentucky Derby Offered by Woodford Reserve). It is going to be fascinating to see the place legendary jockey Frankie Dettori, who’s making his Preakness debut, positions Creativeness within the early levels of the race Saturday relative to Muth. Each of these runners favor to be forwardly positioned however don’t must set the tempo from begin to end to win, though Dettori might want to use a few of Creativeness’s velocity to get out of the gate in good order after which try to maneuver over and save as a lot floor as potential getting into the primary flip. General, Creativeness is a win candidate in Preakness 149 and will provide respectable worth come submit time due to the presence of Muth and Mystik Dan.
Preakness Historical past: As famous, Dettori will make his first Preakness begin after spending many of the spring seasons in his practically 40-year profession driving in Europe. Bob Baffert is the all-time winningest coach within the Preakness with eight: Silver Allure (1997), Actual Quiet (1998), Level Given (2001), Struggle Emblem (2002), Lookin At Fortunate (2010), American Pharoah (2015), Justify (2018), and Nationwide Treasure (2023). He’s additionally completed second twice and third twice with 25 prior starters general. The varied house owners in Creativeness’s partnership have been part-owners of a number of prior Preakness winners, and all of them save Dianne Bashor and Tom Ryan are a part of a bunch that personal Nationwide Treasure, who remains to be in coaching.
