If you make a purchase after clicking on links within this article, Lee Enterprises may earn affiliate commissions. The news and editorial departments had no role in the creation or display of this content.
The second jewel of the Triple Crown — the Preakness Stakes — takes place this Saturday at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland.
A late scratch of the favorite, Muth, has opened the door for Mystik Dan to continue his Triple Crown quest. However, we’re focusing on the sleepers here.
Read below for our 2024 Preakness Stakes long shots and dark horse picks:
FanDuel Preakness Stakes Bonus – Claim $500 first-bet bonus for Preakness
Registering for a FanDuel Preakness Stakes bonus means qualifying for a $500 first-bet offer ahead of the second Triple Crown race of the 2024 season.
FanDuel Preakness Bonus 2024
| FanDuel Preakness Stakes Promo Code | No code required (click here)
|---|
| FanDuel Preakness Bonus | Up to $500 in bonus bets if your first wager falls short
| FanDuel Racing Promo Terms & Conditions | Bonus bets arrive after qualifying wager settles. Must be located in AR, CA, DE, ID, FL, MN, MT, NH, NM, ND, OR, RI, SD, WA
| FanDuel Withdrawal Payout Time | Less than 12 hours
Note: $500 FanDuel racing bonus is available in AR, AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, ID, LA, MD, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NM, ND, OH, OR, RI, SD, VA, and WA. If located in NY, VA, PA, IN, IL, WV or WY where you have FanDuel Sportsbook & Racing, you can claim a $170 hybrid bonus.
2024 Preakness Stakes long shot picks: #1 Mugatu (20-1)
With just eight horses running in Preakness Stakes, there are significantly fewer long shots to wager on. Mugatu has the honor of the biggest underdog at Pimlico. He’s trained by Jeff Engler and will be ridden by Joe Bravo. The horse has just one lifetime win, which happened at Gulfstream Park in November. His last time out, he finished fifth at the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland. The No. 1 post position has won 12 times at Preakness, most recently last year with National Treasure.
Uncle Heavy is a Pennsylvania-bred colt and shares the longest odds of the race with Mugatu. He’s trained by Robert Reid Jr. and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. Uncle Heavy won the Grade 3 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct on Feb. 3 and finished fifth in his last race at the Grade 2 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct in April. Uncle Heavy has three wins in five career starts. He’ll be in the No. 2 post position, which has produced 12 wins, with the last one coming in 2017.
Seize the Grey is trained by 88-year-old D. Wayne Lukas and is jockeyed by Jaime Torres. Lukas has won the Preakness Stakes six times, with the last one coming in 2013. The horse enters in good form, winning his last race at the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile held at Churchill Downs. His No. 6 post position also owns the distinction of best winning percentage at Preakness with 17 total victories.
Just Steel is one of three horses that will be continuing on from the Kentucky Derby (Mystik Dan, Catching Freedom). He’s also trained by Lukas and is ridden by Joel Rosario. This is an experienced horse that has 12 lifetime runs under his belt with five first-place finishes. His stamina came into question at the Kentucky Derby when he faded after the first mile and ended up finishing 17th. However, Just Steel finished second at the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn in March. His No. 7 post position is tied for second in all-time wins with 14.
Preakness Stakes FAQs
How long is the Preakness Stakes?
Preakness Stakes is the shortest of the three Triple Crown races at 1 3/16 miles.
Where is the Preakness Stakes held?
Preakness is held at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland.
When is the 2024 Preakness Stakes?
The 2024 Preakness is scheduled for Saturday, May 18 at around 6:50 p.m. ET
Who won the last Preakness Stakes?
National Treasure won the Preakness Stakes in 2023 from the No. 1 post.
Which post position has the most wins at the Preakness Stakes?
The No. 6 post has the most wins at Preakness Stakes with 17.
You must be over 21 to play. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-522-4700. 1-800 GAMBLER.
Ryan Hagen broke into the sports betting world early. As a 14-year-old, he sought out a kiosk clerk with relaxed gambling views and convinced him to sell him “Sport Select” tickets – which was the Canadian Lottery Corporation’s original sports betting program. He graduated from Royal Roads University in 2007 and has since combined his passion for sports and (legal) gambling into a career as a sports betting writer. He’s covered college sports, contributed to newspapers and magazines, and written for multiple sportsbooks and affiliates. Off the clock he can be found traveling, searching for noodles, or working on his golf swing.
