Kentucky Derby Winner Set at 8-5 for Middle Jewel of Triple Crown
BALTIMORE – Kentucky Derby (G1) hero Mystik Dan has been installed as the 8-5 favorite on the revised morning line for Saturday’s 149th Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course.
Mystik Dan, who scored an 18-1 upset victory at Churchill Downs May 4, had been rated second at 5-2 behind 8-5 favorite Muth on the original morning line set by Maryland Jockey Club handicapper Brian Nadeau after entries were taken Monday for the $2 million Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown.
Thursday’s revised morning line was made necessary following the Tuesday morning scratch of Bob Baffert-trained Muth, who was discovered to have an elevated temperature.
Kenny McPeek-trained Mystik Dan, who is owned by the Arkansas partnership of Lance Gasaway, 4 G Racing LLC, Daniel Hamby III and Valley View Farm LLC, will face seven 3-year-olds in his bid to add the 1 3/16-mile Preakness to his 2024 Triple Crown resume.
SF Racing LLC and partners’ Imagination, who finished a close-up second in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), is rated second at 3-1. The son of Into Mischief is trained by Hall of Famer Baffert, who will seek a record-extending ninth Preakness victory., who will seek a record-extending ninth Preakness victory.
Albaugh Family Stables LLC’s Catching Freedom, who closed from 15th to finish fourth in the Kentucky Derby, is rated third at 7-2, followed by William Lawrence, Walmac Farm and Stonestreet Stables LLC’s Tuscan Gold (9-2), MyRacehorse’s Seize the Grey and BC Stables LLC and Henry Schmueckle’s Just Steel (12-1), Average Joe Racing Stables LLC and Dan Wells’ Mugatu and Michael Milam and LC Racing LLC’s Uncle Heavy (20-1).
Preakness 149
1: Mugatu 20-1
2: Uncle Heavy 20-1
3: Catching Freedom 7-2
4: Muth SCR
5: Mystik Dan 8-5
6: Seize the Grey 12-1
7: Just Steel 12-1
8: Tuscan Gold 9-2
9: Imagination 3-1