Don’t Just Watch, Wager! Preakness Stakes Betting Lines & Handicapping Tips

The 2024 Preakness Stakes is charging out of the gate, and handicapping experts are buzzing about the contenders. But before you lock in your picks, don’t forget to check out our Preakness Stakes betting lines – they could be the key to unlocking a winning strategy!

Check out Preakness stakes odds and analysis on the best course of action to score profit on this year’s second jewel.  

The second jewel in horse racing’s Triple Crown happens this Saturday when Mystik Dan will lead a small field to Pimlico Racecourse for the 2024 Preakness Stakes. The 149th running of the Preakness is not only a chance for Mystik Dan to take a step closer to immortality but also a chance for Bob Baffert to showcase his top three year olds, including Muth, the Arkansas Derby winner, and $1.7 million purchase Imagination.

Considering the field size and the Baffert entrants, how should horseplayers bet the Preakness stakes?

How to Handicap the Preakness Stakes

Tuscan Gold is a decent key horse and here’s why

Catching Freedom beat Tuscan Gold in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby, but Tuscan Gold, who finished third Behind Honor Marie, had an excuse. He failed to change leads in time and didn’t see Honor Marie and Catching Freedom motoring down the middle of the lane.

Gold tracked the pace setter and then wanted to beat the horse in front of him, which he did. So if Tuscan Gold has improved, and there’s no way to believe he hasn’t since he’s trained by Chad Brown and has had the luxury of sitting on the shelf for eight weeks, he could handle this field.  

Consider Tuscan Gold the top key horse if you’re looking to play exotics on Saturday. If he goes off at around the +500 expected odds, back Gold to win if you believe in our thesis.

Use Muth, but Only Underneath

Muth could be as good, if not better, than National Treasure, the Baffert runner that won the 2023 Preakness Stakes. But although Muth is a talented runner, he has yet to boast a speed rating as high as Catching Freedom’s or Mystik Dan’s.

Muth will be over bet in this. Horseplayers are going to jump all over the runner. If you want to cash a Preakness ticket, then back Muth. But if you want to place an optimal bet that can lead to nice profit, use Muth underneath but that’s it.   

Throw Out Mystik Dan if You Believe He Bounces

If you believe Mystik Dan bounces, and there’s no telling if he will, he’s likely out of the top three. If you don’t believe he bounces, and he offers better odds than Muth, then for sure use him on the top and bottom of your exotics.

FYI, trainer Kenny McPeek was on the fence regarding running Mystik Dan in the Preakness Stakes. That tells us the owners said a Triple Crown is a once in a lifetime chance accomplishment, which is why Mystik Dan will enter the starting gate. Make no mistake, though, the horse’s trainer wasn’t sure he’d produce the same effort. So don’t jump on the Derby winner off his last race.

Go All In the Third Slot on Your Superfecta and in the Second Slot on Your Trifecta

To cash a nice ticket, we must take a chance on the second slot in the trifecta and the third slot on the superfecta. In both slots push the All button.

Sometimes, a horse like Mugatu will show up when the lights are brightest. Mugatu could go off at 50-to-1 in a short field. Those odds are impossible to ignore. So make sure Mugatu, and the other longshots like Copper Tax, are in the second slot on your trifecta and in the third slot on your super.

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