For a deeper dive into the Black-Eyed Susan and Preakness Stakes, don’t miss out on our recent podcast episode where we thoroughly analyze both races.

Black-Eyed Susan Stakes

The Black-Eyed Susan Stakes is an annual thoroughbred horse race held at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is one of the premier events for three-year-old fillies in the United States, typically run on the third Friday of May, the day before the Preakness Stakes.

Race Information:

• Date: May 17th, 2024
• Track: Pimlico Race Course
• Location: Baltimore, Maryland, United States
• Event Grade: Grade II
• Race: 13
• Post Time: 5:44 PM ET
• Length: 1 1/8 Mile
• Purse: $300,000
• Division: Fillies | Three Years Old
• Surface: Dirt
• Wagers: Exacta, 50 Cent Trifecta & 1St Leg Black-eyed Susan-preakness Daily Double, 10 Cent Superfecta, $1.00 Jackpot Super High 5, Second Leg Of The Two-day All Stakes 50 Cent Pick 5

TV Schedule:

• Peacock – 3:30 PM

Weather:

• Day: Mostly Cloudy 78 F, 6% Chance of Rain

Previous Winners & Odds:

• 2023: Taxed
  • Odds: 15-1
• 2022: Interstatedaydream
  • Odds: 6-1
• 2021: Army Wife
  • Odds: 8-1
• 2020: Miss Marissa
  • Odds: N/A
• 2019: Point of Honor
  • Odds: N/A
• 2018: Red Ruby
  • Odds: N/A

Trainer, Jockey, & Owner Black-Eyed Susan Stakes Records:

• Most Wins by a Trainer:
  • 4 – D. Wayne Lukas (1984, 1986, 1989 & 1995)
  • 4 – Todd A. Pletcher (2005, 2007, 2012 & 2014)
• Most Wins by a Jockey:
  • 4 – Chris McCarron (1976, 1985, 1986 & 1992)
  • 4 – John R. Velazquez (1998, 2003, 2005 & 2012)

Field:

Previous Races Against Fellow Entrants:

• Weber City Miss Stakes: (1st) Call Another Play, (2nd) Jeanne Marie

Projected Race Setup:

Front Runners

• (#8) RECHARGE

Off the Pace

• (#5) GUN SONG
• (#7) CORPOSO
• (#1) JEANNE MARIE

Middle of the Pact

• (#2) RINGY DINGY
• (#3) LEMON MUFFIN

Back of the Pact

• (#4) CALL ANOTHER PLAY

Closers

• (#6) WHOCOULDASKFORMO

Picks:

• $5 WIN – #4, CALL ANOTHER PLAY, #6 WHOCOULDASKFORMO
  • TICKET COST $10.00

• $2 EXACTA – #7 / #4, #5, #6, #8
  • TICKET COST $8.00

TICKET COST $18.00

Preakness Stakes

The 149th edition of the Preakness Stakes takes place on Saturday, May 18th.

The Preakness Stakes is the second jewel in the Triple Crown, following the Kentucky Derby and preceding the Belmont Stakes. The race takes place annually at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, usually on the third Saturday in May. The Preakness is renowned for its festive atmosphere, including the “InfieldFest,” which features live music and other entertainment.

The race itself is run on dirt over a distance of 1 3/16 miles. It’s open to three-year-old Thoroughbred horses and has a purse of several million dollars. The Preakness has a long and storied history, dating back to its inaugural running in 1873.

Some notable moments in Preakness history include Secretariat’s record-breaking victory in 1973, when he completed the race in an astonishing 1:53, a time that still stands as the fastest in Preakness history. The race also witnessed historic wins by other legendary horses like War Admiral, Seattle Slew, and American Pharoah, who went on to win the Triple Crown in 2015 after clinching victories in both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness.

For a deeper dive into the Preakness Stakes, don’t miss out on our recent podcast episode where we thoroughly analyze both races.

Race Information:

• Date: May 18th, 2024
• Track: Pimlico Race Course
• Location: Baltimore, Maryland, United States
• Event Grade: Grade I
• Race: 13
• Post Time: 7:01 PM ET
• Length: 1 3/16 Mile
• Purse: $2,000,000
• Division: Open | Three Years Old
• Surface: Dirt
• Wagers: Exacta, Trifecta, Superfecta, Super Hi 5, Double

TV Schedule:

• NBC – 1:30 PM – 7:30 PM ET

Weather:

• Day: Rain 67 F, 75% Chance of Rain

Previous Winners & Odds:

• 2023: National Treasure
  • Odds: 5-2
• 2022: Early Voting
  • Odds: 7-2
• 2021: Rombauer
  • Odds: 12-1
• 2020: Swiss Skydiver *
  • Odds: 6-1
• 2019: War of Will
  • Odds: 4-1
• 2018: Justify **
  • Odds: 1-2

* Swiss Skydiver was one of six fillies to have won the Preakness Stakes

** Justify was a Tripple Crown Winner

Trainer, Jockey, & Owner Preakness Stakes Records:

• Most Wins by a Trainer:
  • 8, Bob Baffert (1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2010, 2015, 2018, 2023)
• Most Wins by a Jockey:
  • 6, Eddie Arcaro (1941, 1948, 1950, 1951, 1955, 1957)
• Most Wins by an Owner:
  • 7, Calumet Farm (1941, 1944, 1947, 1948, 1956, 1958, 1968, 2013)

Preakness Stakes Historical Post Position Stats:

Field:

Horse Preview:

Mugatu enters the Preakness having only one prior win under his belt—a $42,000 Maiden Special Weight at Gulfstream Park in November 2023. In March 2024, he made his stakes race debut in the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes at Turfway Park, finishing 4th with his best speed figure to date, trailing Encino (winner of the Lexington Stakes) and Epic Ride (14th in the Kentucky Derby). He then finished 8th in the Rushaway Stakes, where he was never a significant contender. Most recently, Mugatu placed 5th in his first Graded Stakes, the Grade I Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, finishing behind Derby entrants Sierra Leone, Just a Touch, and Epic Ride. Despite achieving his highest speed figure in this race, Mugatu is not considered a contender for the Preakness.

Joe Bravo, who has ridden Mugatu in nine of his twelve career starts, will retain the mount.

Uncle Heavy broke his maiden in his first career start, winning a $66,000 Maiden Special Weight at Parx. He then finished 5th in his first stakes race, the Pennsylvania Nursery Stakes. He returned to the winner’s circle at the Wait For It Stakes, posting his best speed figure to date. Stepping up in distance and class, Uncle Heavy won the Grade III Withers Stakes by a nose over El Grande O. In his most recent outing, he finished 5th in the Grade II Wood Memorial Stakes, hindered by an unfavorable trip. If the track is wet, keep an eye on Uncle Heavy, as two of his three victories have come on wet surfaces. Otherwise, he may lack the speed to be competitive in this race.

Irad Ortiz, Jr., will get his first mount on Uncle Heavy.

Catching Freedom broke his maiden in his first career start, winning a $120,000 Maiden Special Weight at Churchill Downs. He then finished 4th in an Allowance Optional Claiming race. Following that, he returned to the winner’s circle in the Smarty Jones Stakes, defeating fellow entrant Just Steel. In his first Graded Stakes race, the Grade II Risen Star Stakes, he finished 3rd behind Derby entrants Sierra Leone and Track Phantom. He then won the Grade II Louisiana Derby, finishing ahead of fellow entrant Tuscan Gold (3rd). In his most recent race, the Kentucky Derby, Catching Freedom rallied from 15th to finish 4th, less than two lengths behind the winner and fellow entrant Mystik Dan.

Flavien Prat, who has ridden Catching Freedom in each of his last two starts, will retain the mount.

Mystik Dan broke his maiden in his second start, winning a $121,000 Maiden Special Weight at Churchill Downs. He then finished fifth in a $100,000 Allowance Optional Claiming race and fifth in the Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn. Following those races, he secured his second victory in the Grade III Southwest Stakes, defeating fellow entrants Catching Freedom and Just Steel. In his penultimate race, he finished third in the Grade III Arkansas Derby despite being bumped. Most recently, Mystik Dan triumphed in the Kentucky Derby, narrowly beating Sierra Leone by a nose.

Brian Hernandez Jr., who has ridden Mystik Dan in six of his seven career starts, will retain the mount.

Seize the Grey broke his maiden in his second start, winning a $105,000 Maiden Special Weight at Saratoga. He then competed in the Skidmore Stakes, finishing 3rd, followed by a 4th place finish in the Grade III Iroquois Stakes, losing to Kentucky Derby entrant West Saratoga. His next win came in February 2024 in an Allowance Optional Claiming race at Oaklawn Park. He subsequently finished 3rd in the Grade III Jeff Ruby Stakes at Turfway Park, behind Kentucky Derby entrants Endlessly and West Saratoga. In his penultimate race, he ran 7th in the Grade I Blue Grass Stakes. Most recently, he won the Grade II Pat Day Mile Stakes, posting his best speed figure to date. Seize the Grey has struggled with longer distances in the past, making it uncertain how he’ll handle a mile and three-sixteenths. Additionally, his speed figures have not been particularly impressive, casting doubt on his competitiveness in this race. Despite my personal bias toward grey horses, I just can’t see this colt being a strong contender given the projected pace.

Jaime Torres, who has ridden Seize the Grey in four of his nine career starts will retain the mount.

Just Steel is one of the more experienced horses in the field, with twelve starts. He broke his maiden in his third start, winning a $105,000 Maiden Special Weight at Saratoga. Following that, he finished seventh in the Grade I Hopeful Stakes and sixth in the Breeders’ Futurity. After these disappointing finishes, he was cut back in distance. In his next two races, both sprints, he finished third in a $100,000 Allowance Optional Claiming race and then won the Ed Brown Stakes. Moving back up in distance, he finished second in both the Smarty Jones Stakes and the Grade III Southwest Stakes, losing to fellow entrants Catching Freedom and Mystik Dan, respectively. Just Steel then finished seventh in the Grade II Rebel Stakes and second in the Grade I Arkansas Derby. In his most recent start, the Kentucky Derby, he ran 17th after being bumped early.

Joel Rosario, who has ridden Just Steel in four of his twelve career starts will retain the mount.

Tuscan Gold is the least experienced colt in the field, with just three races to his name. He broke his maiden in his second race, winning a $70,000 Maiden Special Weight at Gulfstream Park. In his most recent race, he finished 3rd in the Grade II Louisiana Derby, behind fellow entrant Catching Freedom and Kentucky Derby entrant Honor Marie.

Tyler Gaffalione, who has ridden Tuscan Gold in each of his last two starts will retain the mount.

Imagination broke his maiden in his third start, securing victory in a $65,000 Maiden Special Weight race at Santa Anita. Subsequently, he narrowly missed out on victory in an Allowance Optional Claiming race, finishing second by a nose. He then stepped up to his first Graded Stakes race, the Grade II San Felipe Stakes, where he triumphed by a head. In his latest outing, the Grade I Santa Anita Derby, he finished second by a nose to Stronghold, who ultimately placed 7th in the Kentucky Derby.

Frankie Dettori, who has ridden Imagination in each of his last two starts will retain the mount.

Previous Races Against Fellow Entrants:

• Kentucky Derby: (1st) Mystik Dan, (4th) Catching Freedom, (17th) Just Steel
• Arkansas Derby: (1st) Muth, (2nd) Just Steel, (3rd) Mystik Dan
• Louisiana Derby: (1st) Catching Freedom, (3rd) Tuscan Gold
• Bluegrass Stakes: (5th) Mugatu, (7th) Sieze the Grey
• Southwest Stakes: (1st) Mystik Dan, (2nd) Just Steel
• Smarty Jones Stakes: (1st) Catching Freedom, (2nd) Just Steel, (5th) Mystik Dan

Projected Race Setup:

Front Runners

• (#9) IMAGINATION

Off the Pace

• (#7) JUST STEEL
• (#8) TUSCAN GOLD

Middle of the Pact

• (#5) MYSTIK DAN
• (#6) SEIZE THE GREY

Back of the Pact

• (#1) MUGATU

Closers

• (#2) UNCLE HEAVY
• (#3) CATCHING FREEDOM

Picks:

• $5 WIN – #8 TUSCAN GOLD, #9 IMAGINATION
  • TICKET COST $10.00

• $2 EXACTA – #8, #9/ #3, #5, #7, #8, #9
  • TICKET COST $16.00

• $1 TRIFECTA – #5/ #3, #8, #9/ ALL
  • TICKET COST $18.00

TOTAL COST $44.00

Best of luck, and as always you can find me on Twitter @GatorBetting and Instagram @Gator_Sports_Betting. Any feedback whether positive or negative is always encouraged.