A Virginia Horse Racing Fan’s Guide To The 2024 Preakness Stakes
All horse racing enthusiasts’ attention is now focused on the Mid-Atlantic circuit as the 2024 Preakness Stakes approaches. Taking place on Saturday, May 20, this prestigious event will be held at the nearby Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.
If you’re a horse racing enthusiast in Virginia, there are a couple of ways for you to participate in the excitement. One option is to make a trip to Pimlico and experience the races live across the border. Alternatively, you can engage in watching and placing bets through an advanced deposit wagering platform like FanDuel Racing.
Here’s everything you need to know to fully enjoy the Preakness, pick your preferred way!
Kentucky Derby winner Mage an 8/5 favorite
Just two weeks ago, Mage was not a favored selection in the Kentucky Derby. He had recently secured a second-place position in the Florida Derby and was given odds of 15-1.
Nevertheless, renowned jockey Javier Castellano strategically executed a remarkable come-from-behind maneuver, propelling Mage towards the front as they reached the stretch. With an impressive surge, Mage surpassed Two Phil’s in the last furlong, ultimately securing Castellano’s inaugural Kentucky Derby triumph.
After a fortnight, Mage is all geared up for the second phase of the prestigious Triple Crown horse racing event. On Saturday afternoon, he will be competing against seven opponents, none of whom participated in the Kentucky Derby.
If he wins, he will join the ranks of horse racing’s 14th Triple Crown victor and become only the third horse since 1978 to achieve this remarkable feat. Justify, the last horse to conquer the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes, accomplished this extraordinary triumph in 2018.
Can anyone upset Mage in the Preakness?
First Mission, trained by Brad Cox, is the 5/2 second choice on the morning line. Coming off a victory in the Lexington at Keeneland last month, this colt has shown promising form. Notably, Disarm, who finished third in that race, went on to secure a respectable fourth place in the Kentucky Derby.
Trainer Bob Baffert was absent from the Kentucky Derby due to his two-year ban from participating in the race. Nevertheless, he has returned to the Preakness with National Treasure, a horse that gained recognition by finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last season. National Treasure’s most recent performance was a fourth-place finish in the Santa Anita Derby.
Chad Brown, known for his skilled horse training, has achieved an extraordinary feat twice in the past by having his horses skip the Kentucky Derby and still emerge victorious in the Preakness. Now, he is aiming for a third triumph with Blazing Sevens this Saturday. Blazing Sevens, who showcased immense potential by winning the renowned Champagne Stakes as a 2-year-old, has unfortunately failed to secure a victory in his three subsequent races.
More on Preakness Week at Pimlico
The Preakness Stakes, scheduled for Saturday, will commence at 7:01 pm Eastern Time. It serves as the penultimate race out of a total of 14, set to begin at 10:30 am. The program will also showcase eight additional stakes events throughout the day.
Friday’s program is set to be an impressive one, featuring six stakes races, with the highlight being the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, the sister race to the Preakness. The Black-Eyed Susan Stakes is exclusively for 3-year-old fillies, and this year, all eyes are on Faiza, an undefeated trainee from the Baffert stable.
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