2024 Preakness Stakes: Uncle Heavy 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 Uncle Heavy.

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2024 Preakness Stakes Predictions: Uncle Heavy

Post Position: 2
Odds: 20-1

Uncle Heavy is the true wild card in this race. He owns a career record of 5:3-0-0 with al five races ending with either him in the winner’s circle or a 5th okace finish. What makes this more intriguing is the fact Uncle Heavy is one of two proven mudders (Mystik Dan) with his Withers Stakes (G2) victory on a sloppy track. The significance of this, not only experience but success in the mud cannot be understated.

The worse the conditions on Saturday, the better for Uncle Heavy. He also has renowned jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. riding him on Saturday which is never a bad thing.

– Luke Monaldo

Bet: Longshot Win if track rated “sloppy”

Uncle Heavy Longshot Bet

Uncle Heavy will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., who was aboard Domestic Product, a horse that fizzled to 13th at the Kentucky Derby. Still, Uncle Heavy is a different horse and a winner. The Robert E. Reid Jr.-trained three-year-old colt stumbled to a fifth-place showing at the Wood Memorial last time out on April 6. However, before that, Uncle Heavy posted a win at the Withers Stakes at Aqueduct on February 3, a race with an E Speed Figure of 95. And at Parx Racing, Uncle Heavy posted a victory in the Wait For It Stakes.

The one thing Uncle Heavy might have going for it is the weather forecast. There is a 50% or greater chance of showers, light rain or moderate precipitation from 1 a.m. ET to 2 p.m. ET. The rain is expected to taper off by 6 p.m. ET, with a 30% chance of precipitation. Still, the track will be a muddied mess, which is just the way Uncle Heavy likes it. His best two races have come on a wet surface, including the solid victory at the Withers Stakes against El Grande O. Uncle Heavy has won both starts with a track listed as wet, while winning just once in three tries on a dry run. Keep that in mind for your exotics.

– Daniel Dobish

For more longshot bets, check out our complete 2024 Preakness Stakes Longshot Bets: Sleeper Picks & Predictions article.

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.