As anticipation builds for the 2024 Preakness Stakes, the horse racing world turns its eyes to the potential contenders who will battle it for the coveted title. This prestigious event, known for its rich history and tradition, never fails to capture the imagination of fans and bettors alike.
Below, we’ll preview five horses that are most probable contenders for the second jewel in the Triple Crown. From seasoned champions to emerging stars, these equine athletes represent the pinnacle of speed, stamina, and heart.
Nysos
Nysos is a Bob Baffert 3-year-old colt named the favorite to win the 2024 Preakness Stakes. When you bet 2024 Preakness Stakes online and want to win, placing your wager on the favorite would be the safest option.
This Baffert horse became the favorite for a reason. Aside from the fact that the Hall of Famer horse trainer Bob Baffert trained this horse, Nysos is also an undefeated contender. He showed amazing performances during his three previous successful races.
If you are looking forward to this year’s Preakness Stakes, you should follow Nysos and revisit his past races to gauge his prowess on the racetrack properly.
Sierra Leone
Another probable contender for the upcoming Preakness Stakes is the 2024 Kentucky Derby participant Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone made a winning debut at Aqueduct on November 4 before narrowly losing to Dornoch by a nose in the Grade 2 Remsen at the same venue on December 2.
He kicked off his 3-year-old season with a victory by half a length against Track Phantom in the Grade 2 Risen Star at Fair Grounds on February 17. Among the 346 horses nominated for the Triple Crown, Sierra Leone stands out as the most expensive at $2.3 million.
Sierra Leone’s father, Gun Runner, secured a third-place finish in the 2016 Kentucky Derby and was later named Horse of the Year in 2017 at 4.
Dornoch
Dornoch is set to be among the 20 contenders in the Kentucky Derby on May 4, 2024, at Churchill Downs. His recent performance includes a fourth-place stance at the Grade 1 Blue Grass on April 6 at Keeneland, positioning him eighth in the Derby points standings with 75 points.
Before this, Dornoch had secured victories in three consecutive races, notably the Grade 2 Remsen and Grade 2 Fountain of Youth, before the Blue Grass event. The horse is co-owned by Jayson Werth, an ex-major league All-Star outfielder for the Philadelphia Phillies, who named his Two Eight Racing LLC after his jersey number, 28.
Dornoch derives its name from the prestigious Royal Dornoch Golf Club in Scotland: “DOOR-nick.” Interestingly, Dornoch shares his lineage with the 2023 Kentucky Derby champion, Mage, being his full brother.
Muth
Muth is another Bob Baffert horse that could compete in the 2024 Preakness Stakes. Due to Baffert’s ongoing suspension at Churchill Downs, Muth was prohibited from participating in the 2024 Kentucky Derby.
This suspension occurred after Baffert’s horse, Medina Spirit, failed a drug test following a race in 2021. This led to a two-year ban from entering horses at Churchill Downs races.
Despite recently winning the Arkansas Derby, which typically positions a horse as a leading candidate for the Kentucky Derby, Muth’s eligibility was affected by the complications arising from Baffert’s current suspension.
However, Baffert’s suspension is only limited to the Kentucky Derby race. Thus, Muth can show the world his strength on the racetrack through the Preakness Stakes. With how he participated and finished his previous race, Muth is one of the probable contenders for this year’s Preakness Stakes and is worth following.
Maymun
Bob Baffert focuses all his efforts and top trainees on the Preakness Stakes this year. Maymun is another Baffert horse that plans to participate in this year’s Preakness Stakes.
Maymun (Frosted), initially purchased for $50,000 at KEESEP and later sold for $900,000 as a 2-year-old in April at OBS by Paul Neatherlin, and currently under the banner of Zedan Racing Stables, made an impressive debut in January. Leading from the front over 6 1/2 furlongs, Maymun has been named the newest ‘TDN Rising Star.’
Maymun emerged as a standout star at the OBS April event, impressively clocking in at 9 3/5 seconds, convincing his current trainer of his exceptional talent. “He demonstrated incredible speed,” Baffert remarked about the young colt following the sale.
“His performance was outstanding, and he recovered nicely, which is a significant advantage.” Bloodstock agent Donato Lanni noted in Ocala, “In my opinion, he was among the top horses available at the auction. His price was well justified.”
Final Words
While these five contenders possess the qualities that could see them triumph at the Preakness Stakes, horse racing is a realm of unpredictability. This very element of surprise, combined with the sheer skill and courage of the participants, makes the Preakness Stakes a thrilling event year after year.
The journey to Pimlico is filled with obstacles, and each horse listed here has the potential to seize the moment and claim victory in the heart-stopping spectacle that is the Preakness Stakes.