Preakness 2024 Post Positions: Predictions for Each Horse in the Lineup

After winning the Kentucky Derby earlier this month, Mystik Dan will look to keep his Triple Crown hopes alive on Saturday at the Preakness Stakes. The horse that appeared most likely to beat him will no longer be in the race.

On Wednesday, it was announced that betting favorite Muth had been scratched from the 149th running of the Preakness due to a fever. The Bob Baffert-trained colt had led the field with 8-5 odds to win.

Now, Mystik Dan is the favorite coming off his thrilling victory in a photo finish at the Kentucky Derby. He'll look to outrace the other seven horses at the 1 3/16-mile Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.

Post time for Saturday's Preakness is set for 6:50 p.m. ET. Here's everything else you need to know heading into the race.

Post Positions, Odds

1. Mugatu (20-1)

2. Uncle Heavy (20-1)

3. Catching Freedom (6-1)

4. Muth (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)

Preview, Predicted Order of Finish

Although Baffert may no longer have Muth in the Preakness field, the 71-year-old trainer will still have another opportunity to notch his ninth win at the event. Imagination, who is starting from the No. 9 post, will be the only one of Baffert's horses in Saturday's field.

No trainer has as many Preakness victories as Baffert, and he'll surely have Imagination ready for the race. The colt has finished either first or second in each of his six career events, and he placed second at the Santa Anita Derby in early April.

Heading into Preakness week, Imagination had been overshadowed by Muth. But he's a strong contender himself, tied with Catching Freedom for the second-best odds to win the race behind Mystik Dan.

Without Muth in the field, Mystik Dan becomes the horse to beat. He was a bit of a surprise winner at the Kentucky Derby (where he had only 16-1 odds), but he isn't being overlooked this week.

"I guess it puts added pressure on us, but he's ready," trainer Ken McPeek said, according to Byron King of BloodHorse.

While there are several strong contenders in the field who should emerge as front-runners, the prediction here is that the race comes down to Mystik Dan and Imagination.

Although Mystik Dan reached the finish line first at the Kentucky Derby, he's been bested before. Prior to that race, he had finished third or worse in three of his previous four races.

This time, Mystik Dan will end up on the losing end of a close finish. Imagination will get to the line first, giving Baffert yet another Preakness win.

Predicted Order of Finish: 1. Imagination; 2. Mystik Dan; 3. Just Steel; 4. Tuscan Gold; 5. Catching Freedom; 6. Uncle Heavy; 7. Seize the Grey; 8. Mugatu.