Sierra Leone Returns and Favored at The Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes will look much different than usual this year and it’s not just because there will be no Triple Crown winner. The 2024 edition of the race will happen at Saratoga Race Course instead of Belmont Park due to renovation and construction. Also, the Belmont Stakes will be shortened from 1 ½ miles to 1 ¼ miles. After skipping the Preakness, Sierra Leone returns to face some familiar foes, and some new contenders. Sierra Leone +180 If the Kentucky Derby was just another foot longer, Sierra Leone would have won at Churchill Downs. He did everything right that day, but Mystic Dan nosed him out for the win. He’s still considered one of the best 3-year olds in the country and will look to prove that in New York. The Derby runner-up hasn’t raced since the first Saturday in May but has posted some solid works. One big change to note as jockey Flavien Prat replaces Tyler Gaffalione for the Belmont. Mystik Dan +800 It’s not often you get a Derby winner stick around for the Belmont if he’s not chasing the Triple Crown but it appears Mystik Dan will take a run, his third Gr. 1 race in five weeks. The Derby winner tried to run a similar race at Pimlico, saving ground along the rail but on the turn, had to go to the outside and wasn’t able to catch Seize the Grey. This truly is “The Test of the Champion” for Dan, and fatigue likely hinders his chance of taking two of the three Triple Crown races. LONGSHOT CHANCE Antiquarian +1200 Looking for a price? Antiquarian may be your bet. He’ll definitely be double digit odds but has been impressive after breaking his maiden in February, finishing sixth in the Louisiana Derby and bouncing back with a win in the Peter Pan Stakes where he posted his best speed figure of his career. Since 1951, eight winners of that race have gone on to win the Belmont. Another reason to consider, Antiquarian has shown he may like a longer distance. Honor Marie +1200 In the last 24 years, 12 horses who didn’t win the Kentucky Derby have come back to win the Belmont Stakes. That could fit here with Honor Marie. He finished 8th in the “Run for the Roses” and has been well rested since that effort. The colt had a tough race getting bumped coming out of the gate and in 19th place on the first turn. The same distance with a smaller field could see Honor Marie get his shining moment in the Big Apple. 2024 Belmont Stakes Odds Sierra Leone +175 Mindframe +350 Mystik Dan +800 Seize the Grey +800 Resilience +1000 Antiquarian +1200 Honor Marie +1200 Dornoch +2500 The Wine Steward +2500 Protective +4000
Mystik Dan Chases Second Leg of Triple Crown at the Preakness
The 150th Kentucky Derby gave us one of the most dramatic finishes with Mystik Dan nosing out Sierra Leone and Forever Young in a photo finish. But as the attention turns to Pimlico and the Preakness Stakes, Mystik Dan isn’t the favorite to win the second leg of the Triple Crown. Still, the racing world has an opportunity Muth (+110) Arguably one of the best horses of 2024, Muth has two victories this year and has never finished worse than second in six career starts (4 wins, 2 seconds). Muth defeated Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan in the Arkansas Derby but did not make the trip to Louisville. That’s because his trainer, Bob Baffert is suspended from Churchill Downs until the end of this year because 2021 Derby winner Medina Spirit failed a drug test for a banned steroid. Muth hasn’t raced since the end of March and should be fit for Pimlico. Mystik Dan (+400) Typically the Derby winner goes into the second jewel of the Triple Crown as the favorite but that isn’t the case this week. Mystik Dan is the first Kentucky Derby winner since 2012 to not open as the Preakness betting choice. Winning at 18-1 at Churchill Downs, this colt is now the second choice, because the public is on Muth. While he may not be the top choice, Mystik Dan should be respected here. If Brian Hernandez Jr. can save ground, and get another rail trip, he could be contending in the final furlong, especially if there’s some early pace. VALUE PLAYS Imagination (+700) Imagination has never finished worse than second in his six career starts and has two wins on the resume. This 3-year old colt has a personal best 104 speed figure, just behind Muth (115) and Mystik Dan (109 at the Kentucky Derby). Imagination has plenty of speed to contend with this field, and if he can be at the top of his game, bettors will be rewarded handsomely. Tuscan Gold (+800) Tuscan Gold has the pedigree and a trainer who knows how to win at the Preakness. Chad Brown has won the second leg twice in his career and goes for the hat trick with the lightly raced colt. Tuscan Gold gets his fourth start Saturday and hasn’t raced since finishing third in the Louisiana Derby on March 23. With much of the attention on Muth and Mystik Dan, Tuscan Gold could be a bit of a sleeper at Pimlico. Preakness Stakes Odds Muth +110 Mystik Dan +400 Catching Freedom +600 Imagination +700 Tuscan Gold +800 Just Steel +1600 Seize the Grey +2000 Uncle Heavy +3300 Mugatu +6600
Kentucky Derby 2024 Updated Odds Overview
As we approach the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 4, 2024, excitement is building around the potential contenders and their chances. The 1 1/4-mile classic is the start of US flat racing’s Triple Crown, which includes the Preakness in two weeks and next month’s Belmont Stakes. Here’s a detailed look at the latest odds (April 3rd) for the horses expected to finish in the top three in the Kentucky Derby 2024, according to betonline.ag. Event Details Key Contenders to Watch While Sierra Leone (Blue Grass Stakes winner) and Fierceness (Florida Derby winner) are seen as the frontrunners making it a two-horse race, there are other notable horses that could present a challenge, including Just A Touch, Forever Young, Catching Freedom, and Honor Marie. Current Betting Odds Here is a comprehensive table of the latest odds for the top contenders to finish in the first three places at the upcoming Kentucky Derby via BetOnline.ag: Horse Name Odds to Finish in Top 3 Sierra Leone +105 Fierceness +105 Catching Freedom +250 Forever Young +250 Just a Touch +350 Dornoch +550 Honor Marie +550 Stronghold +550 Resilience +600 Just Steel +650 Track Phantom +650 Endlessly +650 Domestic Product +650 Mystik Dan +700 Epic Ride +1000 Catalytic +1400 T O Password +1400 Society Man +1800 West Saratoga +2000 Grand Mo the First +2000 Proposition Betting As well as betting on the winner of the race, BetOnline offers a number of proposition betting markets for the Kentucky Derby including: