2024 Preakness Stakes: Just Steel Odds, Picks & Predictions

by BettingPros Staff |
May 18, 2024

With the 2024 Kentucky Derby in the rearview mirror, all eyes now turn to the legendary Pimlico Race Course for the 2024 Preakness Stakes. As the middle jewel of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes draws not only the finest three-year-old thoroughbreds but also a massive audience of racing enthusiasts and bettors keen to witness history in the making. Throughout this series, our featured horse racing experts will break down their favorite bets for the Run for the Black-eyed Susans, in addition to providing individual horse profiles. Below, we take a look at the current Preakness Stakes odds, post position, and expert advice for Just Steel.

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2024 Preakness Stakes Predictions: Just Steel

Post Position: 7
Odds: 15-1

Just Steel enters the Preakness Stakes off a disastrous 17th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby. Just Steel started the race among the pace setters before completely running out of gas. That effort completely contradicts a 2nd-place finish in the Arkansas Derby, during which Just Steel topped Derby winner Mystik Dan while posting a triple-digit speed figure. A more modest Preakness pace could bode well for Just Steel, and it certainly helps to have 6-time Preakness-winning trainer D. Wayne Lukas in charge.

But the 88-year-old hasn’t won at Pimlico in over a decade. And another speedy early pace could result in a similar burnout. Throw in the short turnaround, and it’s hard to see Just Steel winning this race. But in a less intimidating field, he has a solid chance of hitting the board.

– Matt Barbato

Bet: Use in back of exotics

Just Steel Longshot Bet

The other Lukas-trained horse, Just Steel, tumbled to 17th at the Derby. Joel Rosario hops aboard the steed, looking for his first Preakness Stakes victory. This three-year-old colt has some championship fiber, as he was sired by 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify.

Just Steel hasn’t been able to tap into that championship DNA yet, posting three second-place showings, but no firsts, in five starts in 2024. Some bettors might find Just Steel a safer play to place or show. This horse ended up second at the Arkansas Derby in late March, second at the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park in early February, second at the Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park on New Year’s Day, etc.

The last win by Just Steel came at the Ed Brown Stakes at Churchill Downs on November 25. Prior that, a win at Saratoga in a Maiden Special Weight race. Still, it’s hard to ignore those bloodlines.

– Daniel Dobish

2024 Preakness Stakes Post Positions & Odds

Post	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Odds
1	Mugatu	Jeff Engler	Joe Bravo	20-1
2	Uncle Heavy	Butch Reid Jr.	Irad Ortiz Jr.	20-1
3	Catching Freedom	Brad Cox	Flavien Prat	6-1
4	~~Muth~~	~~Bob Baffert~~	~~Juan Hernandez~~	~~8-5~~
5	Mystik Dan	Kenny McPeek	Brian Hernandez Jr.	5-2
6	Seize the Gray	D. Wayne Lukas	Jaime Torres	15-1
7	Just Steel	D. Wayne Lukas	Joel Rosario	15-1
8	Tuscan Gold	Chad Brown	Tyler Gaffalione	8-1
9	Imagination	Bob Baffert	Frankie Dettori	6-1

2024 Preakness Stakes Horse Previews, Picks & Predictions

Check out our previews for every horse competing in the 2024 Preakness Stakes and our expert analysis on the best bets for this year's Run for the Black-eyed Susans.