Preakness 2024 Horses: Entry List, Vegas Odds and Dark-Horse Favorites

A nine-horse field will descend upon Pimlico race track on Saturday to compete in the 149th running of the Preakness that includes Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan eyeing a run at the Triple Crown.

Mystik Dan captured the eyes of horse racing with a thrilling photo-finish victory at Churchill Downs two weeks ago.

The favorite entering the week was Bob Baffert-trained Muth. He didn't appear at the Derby, in part, because of Baffert's suspension from the historic race track linked to a 2021 failed drug test for Baffert trainee Medina Spirit who won the Derby before being disqualified.

However, Muth was scratched on Wednesday morning after spiking a 103-degree fever.

1. Mugatu 20-1

2. Uncle Heavy 20-1

3. Catching Freedom 6-1

4. Muth 8-5 (scratched)

5. Mystik Dan 5-2

6. Seize the Grey 15-1

7. Just Steel 15-1

8. Tuscan Gold 8-1

9. Imagination 6-1

Odds via Preakness Stakes

After Mystik Dan, the odds start falling pretty quickly.

There might not be much value in betting the two favorites, though. The favorites are both strong contenders, but the Preakness and its shorter 1 3⁄16-mile track has a way of producing some surprising results.

Imagination doesn't offer longshot odds at 6-1. There's still a lot to like about backing the colt, though. For one, he's a Bob Baffert trainee. Baffert has won this race three times since 2015. That includes last year's winner National Treasure who won the race after sitting out the Derby.

While the focus was going to be trained on Muth to do the same thing, there's a lot to like about Imagination. The son of Into Mischief has a win in the Grade II San Felipe Stakes and was a strong second-place finisher Stronghold in the Grade I Santa Anita Derby.

If you're in search of even longer odds then Just Steel might be of interest. The son of Justify has Triple Crown bloodlines and one of the best speed figures in the race with a 112 in his run at the Arkansas Derby.

The 17th-place finish at the Kentucky Derby has contributed to his high odds. Admittedly it's a short turnaround, but it was also a massive field that was easy to get lost in.

With less than half of the horses in the Preakness lineup, he's less likely to have more competition for the early pace. He was caught trying to take the early lead in the Derby and faded over the second half of the race.

With Joel Rosario guiding him this time around, he should run a different race and could remind everyone that he bested Mystik Dan at the Arkansas Derby.