Experts from The Post and Action Network handicap Saturday’s 149th running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course. Post time is approximately 6:50 p.m.
Vic Cangialosi
New York Post racing handicapper
1. Catching Freedom: That three-horse win photo in the Kentucky Derby?
This stretch runner was only 1¹/₂ lengths back in fourth and didn’t have the garden trip that Mystik Dan benefited from.
No 20-horse traffic excuses here with the field set at eight.
Muth scratched so he may have to hang closer to the expected leisurely pace.
Flavien Prat has made one Preakness start. Won it aboard Rombauer. Make it 2-for-2.
2. Tuscan Gold: Ahhh, the old Chad Brown lightly raced Preakness trick.
Cloud Computing and Early Voting were as fresh as this colt when they won the second jewel.
Three starts, one win but less than two lengths back of Catching Freedom in the Louisiana Derby.
Has speed and with Muth out, Tyler Gaffalione may inherit the lead and dance with Bob Baffert’s other rabbit, Imagination.
Shakes him off. Gets caught by Catching Freedom.
3. Mystik Dan: Nothing mystical about Dan’s Derby W.
Slipped through on the inside and held off a couple of tough customers, Sierra Leone and Forever Young.
Was a half-dozen lengths back of Muth in the Arkansas Derby.
With Muth out, will Dan provide some Triple Crown fever and win the second jewel before shipping to Saratoga?
I’m not betting on it. Stalks the pace but this time he gets outkicked.
Michael Leboff
Action Network racing handicapper
1. Tuscan Gold: With Muth out of the race, Tuscan Gold won’t have to make up too much ground down the stretch and that makes him my favorite win bet.
2. Imagination: It seemed as if the general consensus was that Imagination was expected to be the pace-setter for this field but wouldn’t be able to hold off Muth.
Now he’s a gate-to-wire threat.
3. Seize the Grey: You have to have some exposure to a long shot in a field like this and Seize the Grey is my pick after an impressive win at the Pat Day Mile on Derby Day.
Will Schwartz
Action Network racing handicapper
1. Imagination: If Bob Baffert were allowed to enter horses into the Kentucky Derby, Imagination surely would have been a real contender.
He’s an extremely consistent horse, as he’s finished first or second in each of his six career starts.
With Baffert’s other star horse, Muth, scratched, Imagination is poised to spoil Mystik Dan’s Triple Crown bid.
Get the lowdown on the Best USA Sports Betting Sites and Apps
2. Mystik Dan: While it’s tough to envision Mystik Dan getting the job done again, there’s certainly a reason he won at Churchill Downs.
He’s a fantastic horse who could very well run another strong race, but it’s more likely he runs out of steam and sees his finishing push come up short this time — a script that might see him finish a very respectable second.
3. Just Steel: I’m projecting Just Steel to bounce back after a disappointing Derby.
This horse is inconsistent, but not without talent, and has every ability to take a step forward. Trainer D.
Wayne Lukas is as good as anyone in the business and should have his horse ready to put in the showing many expected him to have in Louisville.