Here are my Preakness Trifecta Picks for the second leg of the famed Triple Crown.
Longshot Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan joins a fairly competitive field this Saturday at Pimlico Park. Will he hold off Catching Freedom again?
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Pre-Preakness Updates
Update 05/16/2024 – Saturday’s weather forecast suggests rainy conditions at Pimlico – the track might be muddy as a result.
Update 05/15/2024 – Muth, the odds on favorite, scratches with a high fever.
Update 05/12/2024 – Baltimore’s weather forecast calls for low to mid 70s and scattered showers this Saturday.
Preakness Trifecta Picks
Straight Trifecta Picks
Let’s start with my straight trifecta bet picks. Note each selection must be correct for the bet to win. If you want more flexibility, review the trifecta part wheel picks next.
Straight Trifecta Picks
- 1: Catching Freedom
- 2: Tuscan Gold
- 3: Mystik Dan
Trifecta Part Wheel Picks
Here are my picks for a winning Preakness Stakes trifecta part wheel bet. Enter the following horses in each trifecta key. Then, cash an easy winning ticket at this weekend’s Preakness Stakes.
Part Wheel Keys
- 1: Catching Freedom, Tuscan Gold
- 2: Catching Freedom, Tuscan Gold, Mystik Dan
- 3: Catching Freedom, Tuscan Gold, Mystik Dan, Imagination
Total Cost: $8, $1 per combination
Ways to Bet Trifectas
There are 3 ways to bet trifectas. The simplest is the straight trifecta. It’s also difficult to reliably win. Trifecta Boxes and Wheels are two alternatives. You can add more than 3 horses to your bet. This increases the likelihood of winning with a higher upfront investment.
The following video explains how to place a wheel bet. The procedure is the same for exactas and superfectas. Watch the entire video for help with other bets!
- Straight Trifecta Bet – Pick 3 horses to finish in the top 3 positions. Final order matters.
- Trifecta Box Bet – Pick any number of horses to finish in the top 3 positions. Final order does not matter.
- Trifecta Part Wheel Bet – Select horses to key into each position: first, second and third. Final order does matter depending on how you key each horse.
Efficiency Matters
Trifecta Boxes are more likely to win because final order does not matter. But a box is less efficient than a wheel because you end up buying more combinations than you need.
Trifecta Part Wheels are harder to win because you must select and key horses correctly. However a part wheel is more efficient than a box. You will invest less bankroll to potentially win more money.
Preakness Stakes Trifecta Betting Advice
I recommend a 4 horse Trifecta Part Wheel, keying 2 horses in the first position, 3 horses in the second position and 4 horses in the third. Why?
A 4 horse Trifecta Box costs $24, $1 per combination. But a 4 horse Trifecta Part Wheel using my recommendation is only $8, $1 per combination.
You save money because your third horse is excluded from the first key. Also, your fourth horse is excluded from both the first and second keys. Why pay for extra horses in the first key if you don’t think either can win!
You’ll be making a more efficient bet with higher profit potential. And you’ll be way ahead of the novices betting it all on one horse!
|
Horse |  TwinSpires |
|---|---|
| 5. Mystik Dan | 8/5 Bet |
| 3. Catching Freedom | 7/2 Bet |
| 9. Imagination | 7/2 Bet |
| 8. Tuscan Gold | 4/1 Bet |
| 7. Just Steel | 9/1 Bet |
| 6. Seize The Grey | 14/1 Bet |
| 2. Uncle Heavy | 16/1 Bet |
| 1. Mugatu | 35/1 Bet |
Recent US Graded Stakes Won by Preakness Stakes Entrants
| Horse | Races |
|---|---|
| Mystik Dan | Kentucky Derby (2024 G1), Southwest Stakes (2024 G3) |
| Catching Freedom | Louisiana Derby (2024 G2) |
| Imagination | San Felipe Stakes (2024 G2) |
| Seize The Grey | Preakness Stakes (2024 G1), Pennsylvania Derby (2024 G1), Pat Day Mile Stakes (2024 G2) |
| Uncle Heavy | Withers Stakes (2024 G3) |
How to Key Horses in a Trifecta Part Wheel
Review the above clip from our “How to Bet on Horses” video tutorial. I’ll discuss this wager and each horse below. Let’s assemble our Trifecta Part Wheel keys from the Preakness Odds table.
Key 1
As of writing, Catching Freedom’s odds are 6/1. Put him in all 3 keys. Though Catching Freedom wound up fourth at the Kentucky Derby, I still think he has a solid chance at winning the Preakness. He’ll need to stay towards the front and keep his formidable kick in reserve.
Now let’s pick one more horse for the first key. Also add this horse to your 2nd and 3rd keys.
Tuscan Gold fits the bill for this spot, though he hasn’t run since the G2 Louisiana Derby on March 23, 2024, where he finished third to Catching Freedom. Well rested with an improving speed rating, he has a solid chance of finishing in the top four, if not winning the Preakness outright.
Key 2
Next, we’ll add a third horse to our 2nd key. Also put this horse in the 3rd key.
Here’s where we’ll put Mystik Dan. He was the surprise 18-1 longshot winner at this year’s Kentucky Derby, holding off the closers in the final furlongs of the race. Before the Derby, he was third at the 2024 G1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park on March 30, 2024. He won the G3 Southwest Stakes on February 3, 2024, also at Oaklawn Park.
Key 3
Finally we’ll add a 4th and final horse to our 3rd key only.
Imagination was second at the April 6, 2024 Santa Anita Derby. Before that, he won the G2 San Felipe Stakes – also held at Santa Anita Park – on March 3, 2024.
MSW Abbreviation: MSW means “Maiden Special Weight”. It’s an event reserved for horses who have never won a race.
MCL Abbreviation: MCL means “Maiden Claiming Weight”. It’s an event reserved for horses who have never won a race. Unlike the MSW, trainers may claim a horse for a fixed price.
Preakness Trifecta Part Wheel Keys
- 1: Catching Freedom, Tuscan Gold
- 2: Catching Freedom, Tuscan Gold, Mystik Dan
- 3: Catching Freedom, Tuscan Gold, Mystik Dan, Imagination
Total Cost: $8, $1 per combination
How to Place a Preakness Trifecta Wheel Bet?
Visit our recommended online race books below. Wait until the field is set and each horse is assigned a starting position. Fill out your Trifecta Wheel ticket with each horse’s corresponding number.
Bet On the Preakness Stakes Now
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Good luck from Ron Halfback!
4 Horse Trifecta Part Wheel
Here’s how to reuse this 4 horse trifecta part wheel bet for any other race. Remember, you need to put certain horses in each trifecta key, reusing some horses in multiple keys. This type of wager can be both cheaper and more efficient than a trifecta box, which forces you to pay for all possible winning combinations.
Each letter represents a different horse. Horses A, B, and C appear in multiple keys while Horse D only appears in Key 3.
- 1: A, B
- 2: A, B, C
- 3: A, B, C, D
Total Cost: $8, $1 per combination
Preakness Stakes Trifecta FAQs
Select one or more horses for the first, second and third trifecta keys. Your bet wins if a horse from each of your keys finishes in the respective finishing position: a horse from key 1 wins, a horse from key 2 finishes second, a horse from key 3 finishes third.
A trifecta part wheel is more efficient than a trifecta box bet of equal number of horses because it is more efficient. You’re not paying for every possible winning combination. Instead, you’re only paying for a set of the most likely outcomes.
Preakness Stakes Trifecta bets cost $1 each. Trifecta part wheel bets cost $1 per winning combination, determined by the number of horses you add to each key.
Preakness Stakes Resources
- Preakness Betting Odds – Odds to win this year’s Preakness Stakes and Black-Eyed Susan, with a quick guide to how to bet on these two exciting annual horse racing events.
- Preakness Trifecta Picks – We’ve got a trifecta picks for this year’s Preakness Stakes, offering you the chance to improve your odds with an efficient trifecta wheel bet.
- Preakness Superfecta Picks – If you’re feeling lucky, try our Preakness superfecta part wheel bet, where you’ll key in sets of horses and try to nail the right finish. Though it’s notoriously an elusive bet to win, the potential payout is extremely lucrative.
- Preakness Betting Sites – Last minute picks and the best places to place an online wager for the Preakness Stakes this year.
- How to bet on Horses – We’ve made horse racing betting easy, giving you a basic rundown of the win, place, show, and win-place-show bet. You’ll also learn how place a trifecta, superfecta, exacta, or quinella bet.
- Horse Betting Sites – We’ve reviewed the finest legal US horse racing betting sites, offering our own insights and guidance on where to place a bet. Don’t forget to claim your bonus code.
- Horse Racing Betting Tracks – Complete list of today’s thoroughbred horse races and harness races from major United States tracks and raceways, plus a select list of Canadian and Latin American tracks.