All eyes in the horse racing world will be on Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore on Saturday for the 2024 Preakness Stakes. The track at Pimlico is 1 3/16 miles, or 9.5 furlongs, long, making it the shortest of the Triple Crown horse races. Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan enters as the 8-5 betting favorite in the latest 2024 Preakness Stakes odds after morning-line favorite Muth was forced to withdraw from the 2024 Preakness Stakes field. Other top 2024 Preakness Stakes horses according to oddsmakers include Catching Freedom (7-2), Imagination (3-1) and Tuscan Gold (9-2).
Will Mystik Dan become just the 37th horse to win the first two legs of the Triple Crown, or will one of the Preakness Stakes 2024 longshots like Uncle Heavy (20-1) or Mugatu (20-1) prevail? With so much to consider while making your 2024 Preakness Stakes picks, a little expert help can go a long way.
This will be the 149th version of the Preakness Stakes. Compared to other races, the Preakness has traditionally favored the betting favorites, with 73 of the 149 all time races being won by the favorite. That trend bodes well for Mystik Dan, who is this year's favorite after Muth was forced to scratch due to spiking a fever. With a win on Saturday, Mystik Dan would be one win away from becoming the 14th Triple Crown winner in horse racing history.
Given all the history, there's a method to picking which horses to focus on for exacta, trifecta and superfecta bets in the Preakness Stakes, and SportsLine expert Jody Demling knows what it is. He can help you make the best 2024 Preakness Stakes picks possible.
A fixture in the horse racing world who has been writing about, talking about and betting on races for years, Demling enters the 2024 Preakness Stakes having nailed the winner of the Belmont Stakes four of the last six years, including an exacta in 2022 with Mo Donegal and Nest. He also called Flightline's win at the Breeders' Cup Classic in November of that year.
Demling is at his best in the biggest horse races in the world like the Preakness Stakes 2024. In fact, he has hit 11 of the last 16 Derby-Oaks doubles at Churchill Downs. He's also called 10 of the last 19 Preakness winners, including nailing his Preakness winner, exacta, trifecta and superfecta picks in 2023.
He keenly understands when the Kentucky Derby winner was poised for victory or a massive upset in the second leg of the Triple Crown. Anyone who has followed him is up huge. Now, he's sharing all of his 2024 Preakness Stakes bets here.
Top 2024 Preakness Stakes expert picks
Here's a refresher on these types of bets from SportsLine's Jody Demling:
Preakness Stakes Exacta: Pick the first- and second-place finishers in the correct order. A $2 exacta returned $31.80 at the 2023 Preakness Stakes with National Treasure and Blazing Sevens.
Preakness Stakes Trifecta: Pick the first-, second- and third-place finishers in the correct order. A $1 trifecta returned $24.20 at the 2023 Preakness Stakes with National Treasure, Blazing Sevens and Mage.
Preakness Stakes Superfecta: Pick the first-, second-, third- and fourth-place finishers in the correct order. A $1 superfecta returned $72.40 at the 2023 Preakness Stakes with National Treasure, Blazing Sevens, Mage and Red Route One.
Demling is fading Catching Freedom this year, even though he's one of the favorites at 7-2. Instead, he is building his tickets around Imagination and a big longshot who "is good enough to get a piece against this field." You can see his picks here.
How to make 2024 Preakness Stakes bets
Demling has specific recommendations for exacta, trifecta and superfecta wagers so you can cover all your bases at the Preakness Stakes 2024. He's sharing them over at SportsLine.
So which horses do you take, and in what combinations? Visit SportsLine to get Demling's picks for exacta, trifecta and superfecta bets for the 2024 Preakness Stakes.
2024 Preakness Stakes odds, futures
| Prg # | Horse | Odds | Projections |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mugatu | 20-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 2 | Uncle Heavy | 20-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 3 | Catching Freedom | 702 | SEE PICKS |
| 4 | Muth | SCR | SEE PICKS |
| 5 | Mystik Dan | 8-5 | SEE PICKS |
| 6 | Seize The Grey | 12-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 7 | Just Steel | 12-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 8 | Tuscan Gold | 9-2 | SEE PICKS |
| 9 | Imagination | 3-1 | SEE PICKS |
