Best Trifecta, Superfecta, Exacta Picks for Preakness Stakes 2024 (2024)

The 149th running of the Preakness Stakes — the middle jewel of the Triple Crown — is set for 7 p.m. ET at Baltimore’s historic Pimlico racecourse.

This race offers some solid wagering opportunities, especially if you're looking to fade Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan, so let’s dig into morePreakness Stakes predictions and picks and determine how bettors should play the exacta, trifecta, and superfecta.

Preakness Stakes trifecta, superfecta, and exacta picks

A field of eight will contest the Preakness, led by Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan, who inherited favoritism following the scratch of Muth. On thePreakness Stakes odds board, Mystik Dan is joined by Catching Freedom and Just Steel in returning from the “Run for the Roses,” and there are five “new shooters” ready to make their mark in the three-year-old division.

Exacta pick

The exacta requires the bettor to select the Top 2 finishers of a race in exact order. The minimum wager at Pimlico is $1. Bettors can also “box” an exacta, meaning the two (or more) selected Preakness Stakes horses on a ticket can finish in any order, albeit at an increased cost.

The top horse in my Preakness predictions is No. 8 Tuscan Gold, who could become trainer Chad Brown’s third Preakness victor. Much like his first two winners (Cloud Computing in 2017, Early Voting in 2021) Tuscan Gold is lightly raced and skipped the Kentucky Derby to await this race.

Tuscan Gold ran a solid third in the Grade II Louisiana Derby going 1 3/16th-miles, the same distance as the Preakness. While he did finish behind Catching Freedom, he’ll be the fresher horse when these rivals meet again on Saturday.

This son of Medaglia d’Oro only needs to take a slight step forward to compete in this race, and the price is right. I think Tyler Gaffalione will get his second Preakness triumph after just missing the win in the Kentucky Derby atop Sierra Leone.

Of all the remaining Preakness horses, No. 9 Imagination is the only other one I’ll be backing in the win spot.

Imagination was last seen getting out-bobbed by Stronghold, the Kentucky Derby’s seventh-place finisher, in the Santa Anita Derby. That was his fourth runner-up finish in six lifetime starts, with the remaining two being his only wins to date.

The San Felipe Stakes winner retains Frankie Dettori and has the natural early speed to clear from the far outside spot in the Preakness post positions.

Just in case one of my top two picks falter, I’ll defend myself by wagering on No. 7 Just Steel to finish second.

Just Steel completed the exacta in three of his first four starts of 2024, including the Arkansas Derby two-back. If you can forgive his misfire in the Kentucky Derby after chasing a fast pace, he makes sense for second in the Preakness.

Bettors should note the positive jockey change to Joel Rosario as well as the slight cutback in distance.

$15 exacta pick:

To win: No. 8 Tuscan Gold

Second place: No. 9 Imagination

$5 exacta pick:

To win: No. 9 Imagination

Second place: No. 8 Tuscan Gold

$5 exacta pick:

To win: No. 8 Tuscan Gold, No. 9 Imagination

Second place: No. 7 Just Steel

Total = $30

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Trifecta pick

The trifecta tasks the bettor with determining the first three finishers of a race in exact order. The payoff can be much higher than the exacta, but both the ticket cost and the risk factor increase significantly, even with a minimum wager amount of 50 cents.

Tuscan Gold, Imagination, and Just Steel will absolutely factor into my trifecta picks, but I’ll also use No. 3 Catching Freedom and No. 5 Mystik Dan in the lower rungs.

Catching Freedom rallied late to be fourth in the Kentucky Derby, adding to a solid resume that includes wins in the Louisiana Derby and Smarty Jones Stakes as well as a third in the Risen Star.

Flavien Prat has the call once more for Brad Cox, and as long as this son of Constitution takes to the quick turnaround, he should be involved late.

Mystik Dan has had an up-and-down year, sandwiching a distant third-place effort in the Arkansas Derby with wins in the Southwest and, of course, the Kentucky Derby.

$6 trifecta pick:

To win:No. 8 Tuscan Gold

Second place:No. 9 Imagination

Third place: No. 3 Catching Freedom, No. 5 Mystik Dan, No. 7 Just Steel

$4 trifecta pick:

To win:No. 9 Imagination

Second place: No. 8 Tuscan Gold

Third place: No. 3 Catching Freedom, No. 5 Mystik Dan, No. 7 Just Steel

$0.50 trifecta pick:

To win:No. 8 Tuscan Gold, No. 9 Imagination

Second place:No. 3 Catching Freedom, No. 5 Mystik Dan, No. 7 Just Steel, No. 8 Tuscan Gold, No. 9 Imagination

Third place: No. 3 Catching Freedom, No. 5 Mystik Dan, No. 7 Just Steel, No. 8 Tuscan Gold, No. 9 Imagination

Total = $42

Preakness Stakes picks and predictions

Our experts are making Preakness Stakes picks and building bets all week.

  • Expert Preakness Stakes predictions
  • Preakness Stakes long shots
  • Preakness Stakes budget trifecta picks

Superfecta pick

The superfecta is even tougher to nail down than the trifecta, as it requires the bettor to pick the first four finishers of a race in exact order. Of course, the potential payday can be tremendous. The minimum wager amount is just 10 cents, making it somewhat easier to get involved.

As I did with the exacta and trifecta, I’ll focus on Tuscan Gold and Imagination landing in the Top 2 positions. Then I’ll mix things up with Catching Freedom, Mystik Dan, and Just Steel all being able to grab second.

$2 superfecta pick:

To win:No. 8 Tuscan Gold, No. 9 Imagination

Second place:No. 8 Tuscan Gold, No. 9 Imagination

Third place: No. 3 Catching Freedom, No. 5 Mystik Dan, No. 7 Just Steel

Fourth place: No. 3 Catching Freedom, No. 5 Mystik Dan, No. 7 Just Steel

$0.50 superfecta pick:

To win:No. 8 Tuscan Gold, No. 9 Imagination

Second place:No. 3 Catching Freedom, No. 5 Mystik Dan, No. 7 Just Steel, No. 8 Tuscan Gold, No. 9 Imagination

Third place: No. 3 Catching Freedom, No. 5 Mystik Dan, No. 7 Just Steel, No. 8 Tuscan Gold, No. 9 Imagination

Fourth place: No. 3 Catching Freedom, No. 5 Mystik Dan, No. 7 Just Steel, No. 8 Tuscan Gold, No. 9 Imagination

Total = $48

Which states have legal betting on the Preakness Stakes?

Find the best horse racing betting sites in your region. The best betting sites offer sharp odds, and quick payouts and are safe and secure when it comes to depositing and withdrawing your money.

Canada (excluding Ontario)

Almost all sports betting sites offer fixed-odds betting on horse racing. Check out the best sports betting sites in Canada or sign up now with one of our top partners, Bet365, and earn up to $200 in bet credits!

Ontario

Following the changes to the iGaming regulations on April 4, 2022, horse racing betting is no longer available at sportsbooks. Those in Ontario who are looking to bet on the Preakness Stakes will need to sign up at one of Woodbine's two online offerings, HPIbet and Dark Horse Bets

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Best Trifecta, Superfecta, Exacta Picks for Preakness Stakes 2024 (2024)

FAQs

What is the most common Trifecta number in horse racing? ›

Winning TAB numbers: TAB number 1 is the most dominant number in trifectas, appearing in 40 per cent of all trifectas. TAB number two is next with 35 per cent, number three with 33 per cent, number four with 31 per cent.

How to bet 3 horses in any order? ›

Trifecta and Trifecta Box

It calls for picking the three horses to finish first, second and third. Just like the exacta, you can bet it as a straight trifecta 1-2-3. This means the horses have to finish 1-2-3 in that order. Or you can bet a trifecta box 1-2-3, which means if they finish 3-2-1, you still win.

How to bet $100 on the Preakness? ›

$100 Budget Bet Suggestions:
  1. Suggestion 1: Ladder betting: $50 Win. $30 Place. $20 Show.
  2. Suggestion 2: Strong opinion on 2 to 3 horses. $15 Exacta Box with three horses = $90. $10 Straight Exacta with horse 1 & 2.

What did the Superfecta pay at the Preakness? ›

The $1 superfecta, with fourth-place finisher Tuscan Gold joining the top three, paid $749. Mystik Dan went off as the betting favorite at 2-1. Seize the Grey was 9-1 at post time.

How to pick horses for Trifecta? ›

Trifecta Key

You chose one horse to win, called the key horse, who must come in first followed by the other two horses second and third in any order to collect. You may play more than two horses in second and third, which means any two of those horses can finish in those positions and you will win.

Does order matter in a Trifecta? ›

A trifecta is a parimutuel bet placed on a horse race in which the bettor must predict which horses will finish first, second, and third, in the exact order. Known as a trifecta in the US and Australia, this is known as a tricast in the UK, a tierce in Hong Kong, a triactor in Canada and a tiercé in France.

What is the most profitable bet in horse racing? ›

In conclusion, the most profitable horse racing strategy is value betting. It involves identifying discrepancies between a bettor's estimation of a horse's chance of winning and the odds provided by the bookmaker. By taking advantage of these apparent errors, bettors can maximize profits with higher chances of winning.

What is the safest bet on horse racing? ›

If you like a horse in a race, you can bet it “across the board,” which means a WIN, PLACE and SHOW bet on the same horse. If it crosses the finish line first, you win all three bets. The safest bet you can make is a SHOW bet on the favorite. While it's the most likely to hit, it delivers a small return.

What is the trifecta for the Preakness? ›

Preakness Stakes Trifecta: Pick the first-, second- and third-place finishers in the correct order. A $1 trifecta returned $24.20 at the 2023 Preakness Stakes with National Treasure, Blazing Sevens and Mage. Preakness Stakes Superfecta: Pick the first-, second-, third- and fourth-place finishers in the correct order.

Who should I bet on for the Preakness? ›

2024 Preakness Stakes odds, contenders
Prg #HorseOdds
1Mugatu20-1
2Uncle Heavy20-1
3Catching Freedom6-1
4MuthSCR
5 more rows
May 18, 2024

What is the payout for the Preakness 2024? ›

The 2024 Preakness Stakes, meanwhile, featured the same purse ($2 million) and first-place prize ($1.2 million) as this year's Belmont. However, only the top five finishers in the eight-horse Preakness earned a share of the prize money.

What is exacta trifecta superfecta? ›

The single-race exotics are the most well-known and are listed below: Exacta: pick the first-place and second-place finishers in order. Trifecta: pick the first-place, second-place, and third-place finishers in order. Superfecta: pick the first-place, second-place, third-place, and fourth-place finishers in order.

How many people own Seize the Grey? ›

Saratoga, NY (WRGB) — Seize the Grey, a horse with over 2500 owners, is not only turning heads on the track but also redefining the concept of racehorse ownership. This crowd favorite was sold just two years ago at the Fasig-Tipton fairgrounds, mere blocks from the Saratoga Race Course.

How much is a $2 win place show bet? ›

Combination Straight Bets

If it is second, you collect on place and show and if it is third you collect on only the show part of the bet. Win/Place or Place/Show: Simply a combination of win & place or place & show. There are two combinations, so a $2 bet would cost $4 in total.

What number wins the most horse races? ›

Apart from metropolitan tracks, the handicapper's preferred horses, (number one) won more races than any other number.

What is the Trifecta at most racetracks? ›

The trifecta at most racetracks consists of selecting the first, second, and third-place finishers in a particular race in their proper order. If there are eight entries in the trifecta race, how many tickets must you purchase to guarantee a win?

What is perfect Trifecta? ›

a type of bet, especially on horse races, in which the bettor must select the first three finishers in exact order.

What is the average Trifecta payout? ›

The average trifecta payout is impossible to put a figure on! It totally depends on the size of the trifecta pool and the number of players and different wagers there are. Trifecta dividends range from, perhaps, $10 – $20, to tens of thousands of dollars.

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