Study Guide: 2024 Preakness Stakes
May 16, 2024
Catching Freedom wins the Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds (Photo by Hodges Photography / Credit to Lou Hodges, Jr.)
Two weeks after the Kentucky Derby (G1) kicked off the Triple Crown, the three-race series continues at Pimlico this Saturday with the 149th edition of the $2 million Preakness (G1).
Nine horses have entered the historic 1 3/16-mile second jewel of the Triple Crown, though morning line favorite Muth has scratched.
Let's meet the field:
Mugatu
Mugatu wins at Gulfstream Park (Photo by Coglianese Photogrpahy / Credit to Lauren King)
Start(s): 12
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 3
Owner: Average Joe Racing Stables and Dan Wells
Breeder: JSM Equine
Trainer: Jeff Engler
Jockey: Joe Bravo
Top Speed Rating: (93) when finishing fifth in the Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland.
Total Earnings: $80,570
Sire: Blofeld
Dam: Union Way
Color: Chestnut
A veteran of 12 starts, Mugatu exits a fifth-place finish in the Blue Grass (G1) behind Sierra Leone, who returned to finish second by a nose in the Kentucky Derby. That was Mugatu's best effort to date, but he'll need to improve upon the 93 Brisnet Speed rating he earned to challenge against a tough Preakness field.
Uncle Heavy
Uncle Heavy wins the Withers S. (Photo by Coglianese Photography / Credit to Suisie Raisher)
Start(s): 5
Wins: 3
Place: 0
Show: 0
Owner: Michael Milam and LC Racing
Breeder: Barbara Reid
Trainer: Robert E. Reid Jr.
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Top Speed Rating: (94) when winning the Withers (G3) at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $323,580
Sire: Social Inclusion
Dam: Expect Wonderful
Color: Bay
Stretch-running Withers (G3) winner Uncle Heavy returned from a two-month layoff to finish fifth in the Wood Memorial (G2). It's encouraging to note five-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. is picking up the mount, but Uncle Heavy's late-running style could leave him at a disadvantage against a largely paceless Preakness field.
Catching Freedom
Catching Freedom wins the 2024 Smarty Jones S. at Oaklawn Park (Photo by Coady Photography)
Start(s): 6
Wins: 3
Place: 0
Show: 1
Owner: Albaugh Family Stables
Breeder: WinStar Farm
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Top Speed Rating: (100) when winning the Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds.
Total Earnings: $1,127,350
Sire: Constitution
Dam: Catch My Drift
Color: Bay
A big homestretch rally carried Catching Freedom to a one-length victory in the Louisiana Derby (G2), after which he capitalized on a fast pace to rally from far back and finish fourth by 1 3/4 lengths in the Kentucky Derby. A top-three finish is surely within reach, but like Uncle Heavy, Catching Freedom is a late runner who may find the Preakness pace slower than ideal.
Muth (Scratched)
Muth wins the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn (Photo by Coady Photography)
Start(s): 6
Wins: 4
Place: 2
Show: 0
Owner: Zedan Racing Stables
Breeder: Don Alberto Corporation
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Juan Hernandez
Top Speed Rating: (105) when finishing second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita.
Total Earnings: $1,504,100
Sire: Good Magic
Dam: Hoppa
Color: Bay
Muth has been scratched from the Preakness due to a fever.
Mystik Dan
Mystik Dan (Photo by Coady Photography)
Start(s): 7
Wins: 3
Place: 1
Show: 1
Owner: Lance Gasaway, 4 G Racing, Daniel Hamby III, and Valley View Farm
Breeder: Lance Gasaway, Daniel Hamby, and 4 G Racing
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.
Top Speed Rating: (101) when winning the Southwest (G3) at Oaklawn Park.
Total Earnings: $3,741,360
Sire: Goldencents
Dam: Ma'am
Color: Bay
An awesome ground-saving trip in the Kentucky Derby carried Mystik Dan to victory by a nose in a three-horse photo finish. It was pretty much a carbon copy of his rail-skimming triumph in the Southwest (G3) during the winter. But can Mystik Dan work out another perfect trip while running back on just two weeks of rest? Two starts back, he got a wide trip (with early trouble) in the Arkansas Derby (G1) and finished third, 4 1/4 lengths behind runner-up Just Steel, who is back for the Preakness. Mystik Dan is capable of winning the Preakness, but there are a couple of possible chinks in his armor.
Seize the Grey
Seize the Grey wins at Saratoga 2023
(Photo by Coglianese Photos)
Start(s): 9
Wins: 3
Place: 0
Show: 3
Owner: MyRacehorse
Breeder: Jamm
Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
Jockey: Jaime Torres
Top Speed Rating: (92) when winning the Pat Day Mile (G2) at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $619,938
Sire: Arrogate
Dam: Smart Shopping
Color: Gray/roan
Seize the Grey has shown flashes of serious talent for six-time Preakness-winning trainer D. Wayne Lukas, most recently beating a quality field by 1 1/4 lengths in the Pat Day Mile (G2) two weeks ago. But it's worth noting that Seize the Grey faltered when running back on two weeks of rest in the Blue Grass (G1) earlier this spring, finishing seventh in his only poor showing of the year. The quick turnaround from the Pat Day Mile to the Preakness is a question mark.
Just Steel
Just Steel wins the Ed Brown at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Photography)
Start(s): 12
Wins: 2
Place: 4
Show: 1
Owner: BC Stables and Harry Schmueckle
Breeder: Summerhill Farm
Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Top Speed Rating: (97) when finishing second in the Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park.
Total Earnings: $724,545
Sire: Justify
Dam: Irish Lights
Color: Bay
Just Steel got burned up pressing a hot pace in the Kentucky Derby and faded to finish 17th, but two starts back, he settled a couple lengths off the pace in the Arkansas Derby (G1) and ran strongly to finish second, 4 1/4 lengths ahead of Mystik Dan. Just Steel and Mystik Dan have actually met four times this year, with each finishing ahead of the other on two occasions, so it's not inconceivable for Just Steel to reverse the Kentucky Derby outcome if he gets the right trip at Pimlico.
Tuscan Gold
Tuscan Gold has strong Preakness connections on both sides of his pedigree (Photo by Coglianese Photography)
Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 1
Owner: William H. Lawrence, Walmac Farm, and Stonestreet Stables
Breeder: Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
Top Speed Rating: (98) when finishing third in the Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds.
Total Earnings: $147,100
Sire: Medaglia d'Oro
Dam: Valadorna
Color: Bay
Lightly raced Tuscan Gold has only run twice this year, trouncing a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park before finishing third in the Louisiana Derby. Tuscan Gold was beaten only 1 3/4 lengths by Catching Freedom in that contest, and it's important to note trainer Chad Brown has twice won the Preakness with colts who placed in a major Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier before skipping the Kentucky Derby. Brown gets his Preakness runners ready for career-best efforts at Pimlico, and this history suggests Tuscan Gold will deliver a big run in his Grade 1 debut.
Imagination
Imagination wins the 2024 San Felipe (G2) at Santa Anita Park (Photo by Horsephotos.com)
Start(s): 6
Wins: 2
Place: 4
Show: 0
Owner: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Robert E. Masterson, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, and Tom J. Ryan
Breeder: Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Frankie Dettori
Top Speed Rating: (97) when finishing second in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) at Santa Anita.
Total Earnings: $406,800
Sire: Into Mischief
Dam: Magical Feeling
Color: Bay
There isn't much pace in the Preakness field, which could lend an advantage to Imagination. Never out of the exacta in six starts, Imagination overcame some trouble to win the San Felipe (G2) by a head, after which he finished second by a neck in the Santa Anita Derby (G1). Imagination broke his maiden in gate-to-wire fashion and could wind up setting the pace in the Preakness; if he shakes loose on an uncontested lead, he may prove difficult to run down.
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