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Just Steel payout odds to win this week's Preakness Stakes were coming in at +1200 for a payout potential of $1200 for every $100 bet.
What We Like About Just Steel for This Year's Preakness Stakes
Wayne Lukas last trained a Kentucky Derby-winning horse more than two decades ago prior to bringing Just Steel to this year's big race.
Just Steel would go on to finish 17th. Ouch!
Lukas is confident that the reduced competition will be a benefit to Just Steel.
"We are only talking about an eight horse field, dropping back from 20 horses in the Derby. So, it’s going to change everything a little bit with that for the better. I would rather run in a smaller field," said Lukas.
Through 2023, Lukas has won 4,913 races (No. 9 all time) with purse earnings of $292,948,606 (No. 5 all time).
Just Steel is one of two horses Lucas has entered in this year's Preakness, the other being Seize The Grey.
"The thing here, there is a lot of camaraderie and it’s fun to be here," said the 88-year-old hall of fame trainer. "It seems like a little bit of the tension and intensity of the Kentucky Derby leaves and we come in here and we have a little bit more fun with the whole thing."
As far as Seize The Grey goes, Lukas offered: "Seize the Grey probably will be up with the pace setters. I look for him to get into the race and probably dictate a little bit of that," said Lukas. "The other horse, Just Steel, should be fairly close."
Just Steel has reached triple-digits with his speed figure, including his 100 figure in the Arkansas Derby, but finished 2nd there and hadn't won a graded race up to this point.
Odds to Win the 2024 Preakness Stakes
1 Mugatu +4000
2 Uncle Heavy +1600
3 Catching Freedom +400
5 Mystik Dan +250
6 Seize the Grey +1500
7 Just Steel +1200
8 Tuscan Gold +375
9 Imagination +425
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