Maryland
2024 Preakness Stakes Day: Gallorette, Maryland Sprint, Dinner Party Stakes Bets
I plan to use my winnings from the prior races to bet on the 2024 Preakness Stakes Saturday, May 18th at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. With that in mind, there are four Graded stakes races on Preakness Day. I have action in three: Grade III Gallorette Stakes, Grade III Maryland Sprint Stakes, and the Grade III Dinner Party Stakes.
For many people, including myself, betting on horse racing is intimidating. The past performances (PPs) are loaded with info, shorthand notes, and seemingly random numbers. It’s super fun, and you can make lifetime cashes on small bets. Here’s a quick crash course for horse race betting that I wrote for the 150th Kentucky Derby two weeks ago:
The Stakes Barn awaits horses on Preakness Stakes 2024 Day at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. (Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports)
You can bet a horse to Win (1st), “Place” (2nd), and “Show” (3rd) or “Across the Board”, which is betting all three. There are exotics such as “Exacta”, “Trifecta”, and “Superfecta” for those searching for massive paydays. In an exacta, you bet 2+ horses to finish 1st or 2nd. A trifecta includes 3+ horses for the Win-Place-Show.
A superfecta is 4+ horses to finish 1-4. By “boxing” an exacta, bettors can win if at least two of their picks Win or Place. The same goes for trifecta and superfecta boxes. “Keying” an exotic allows you to put your winner “up top” with horses underneath to finish in any order … Understood, right? Probably not.
Let’s get into the fun stuff: Gambling.
Preakness Stakes 2024 Undercard Picks
Race 7: Grade III Gallorette Stakes, 2:08 p.m. ET post time
A six-horse, one-and-1/6th-mile race on the turf for fillies three years old and up with a $100,000 purse.
3- Blissful
- Morning Line (ML) odds: 7-2
- Record (Starts-Win-Place-Show): 12-3-1-3
- Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.
- Trainer: Cherie Devaux
The #3 horse finished second in her last time out, ran her fastest speed ever, 88, and had a lead entering the home stretch. However, that race was one-and-1/8th-mile, so the shorter distance should help Blissful. All three of her wins were at this distance and on turf, including two races ago. Blissful has hit the money in five consecutive races (1-1-3). She was the top betting choice in three of those and outrun her odds in the other two.
7- Fluffy Socks
- ML odds: 6-5
- Record: 25-5-9-4
- Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
- Trainer: Chad Brown
At first, I looked for ways to fade Fluffy Socks because of her price. Yet, I cannot and this filly is by far the best in the Gallorette. Fluffy Socks has an elite jockey-trainer combo. She made the exacta in 10 of her 17 career graded stakes races. Since I’m Saratoga-bred, I’m biased toward Fluffy Socks since she’s been successful in my hometown. Fluffy Socks has finished Placed in three of her last four Saratoga races.
$5 Exacta Box: 3-7 for a $10 bet
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Race 8: Grade III Maryland Sprint Stakes, 2:48 p.m. ET post time
A six-horse, six-furlong race on dirt for three-year-olds and up with a $100,000 purse.
1- Coastal Mission
- ML odds: 3-1
- Record: 19-12-3-1
- Jockey: Arnaldo Bocachica
- Trainer: Jeff Runco
Coastal Mission will break at shorter odds, if not as the favorite. The only knock on his resume is a fifth-place finish by 10 lengths in his only stakes race, the Grade II Cigar Mile, at Aqueduct in December 2023. Otherwise, Coastal Mission has won seven of his last eight races.
He ran his fastest career speed, a 100 Beyer, his last time out in a longer race at Laurel last month. Finally, this is a “good setup” for Coastal Mission. It’ll probably be a wet track because of early afternoon rain at Pimlico. Coastal Mission is 6-0-0 in eight career races on wet tracks and is 6-3-1 in 11 career races at this distance.
3- Super Chow
- ML odds: 4-1
- Record: 18-8-4-5
- Jockey: Javier Castellano
- Trainer: Jorge Delgado
He’s hit the money in three consecutive races (2-0-1), all graded stakes races. When Super Chow runs at this distance, he is 6-2-2 in 11 starts. The four-year-old is 2-1-0 in three starts on wet tracks. Super Chow is 1-0-0 in two career starts at Pimlico. But, his win was by six-and-1/4th lengths at six furlongs.
4- Jaxon Traveler
- ML odds: 6-1
- Record: 29-9-7-5
- Jockey: Flavien Prat
- Trainer: Steve Asmussen
A top-two jockey-trainer combo in the Maryland Sprint. Jaxon Traveler runs well at Pimlico: 3-2-0 in six career starts. One of those second-place finishes was Grade III Chick Lang Stakes on Preakness Day in 2021. Jaxon Traveler won the six-furlong Grade III Whitemore at Oaklawn in March. The six-year-old has three wins in his last five times out.
PICK(s):
- $2 Trifecta Key: 1/ 3-4 for a $4 bet
- $11 Win on 1- Coastal Mission
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Race 12: Grade III Dinner Party Stakes, 5:52 p.m. ET post time
A nine-horse, one-and-1/8th-mile race on the turf for three-year-olds and up with a $500,000 purse.
1- Highland Chief (Ireland)
- ML odds: 12-1
- Record: 17-4-2-2
- Jockey: Jorge Ruiz
- Trainer: H. Graham Motion
I could’ve just stopped at the top of the Dinner Party PPs. Highland Chief has run well since coming to America in 2022. Five of his six American races have been Graded. He’s won two of those: Grade I Man O’ War Stakes at Belmont in May 2022 and Grade III Sycamore at Keeneland in October later that year.
Highland Chief’s 105 Beyer in the Man O’ War win was the fastest speed of any horse in this field. Lastly, the Irishman is a “closer” and usually runs a longer distance. His last six races have been at least one-and-1/4th miles long.
$10 Win-Place on 1-Highland Chief for a $20 bet
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Follow me on X (or Twitter, whatever) @Geoffery-Clark and check out my OutKick Bets Podcast for more betting content and random rants.
The 21-year-old second baseman and 11th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft has deep ties to the D.C. region.
(Courtesy Washington Nationals)
Courtesy Washington Nationals
(Courtesy Washington Nationals)
Courtesy Washington Nationals
(Courtesy Washington Nationals)
Courtesy Washington Nationals
(Courtesy Washington Nationals)
Courtesy Washington Nationals
(Courtesy Washington Nationals)
Courtesy Washington Nationals
(Courtesy Washington Nationals)
Courtesy Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals’ first-round draft pick Chris Hacopian inked his first professional contract Wednesday, a moment made sweeter by the fact it was just a 30-minute drive from home to get to Nationals Park and put pen to paper.
The 21-year-old second baseman and 11th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft has deep ties to the D.C. region. He’s from Potomac, Maryland, and played his high school ball at Winston Churchill, where he was named the 2022 Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year and a 2022 Washington Post All-Met selection.
According to MLB.com, Hacopian grew up a Nationals fan, admiring the likes of Ian Desmond, Danny Espinosa and others. He also played his first two collegiate seasons at the University of Maryland, where his father Derek played before him, before transferring to Texas A&M for his junior season.
With the Aggies, Hacopian hit .319 with 11 home runs and 41 RBI across 42 games en route to being named First-Team All-Southeastern Conference and a Third-Team All-American by Baseball America, the Nationals said in a news release.
After inking his contract Wednesday, Hacopian donned his new jersey and ball cap and stepped onto D.C.’s beloved diamond as a part of the Nationals organization for the first time.
“That was so cool, oh my gosh. I’ve been in the stands like, 100 times, but being on the field is so different,” he said.
Hacopian was ranked 14th among MLB Draft prospects by MLB.com. The 6-foot-1-inch, 210-pound second baseman boasted one of the best bats in college baseball, according to MLB.com, with excellent control over the strike zone and feel for the barrel, along with solid pop.
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The state said the five recently traveled together to “a location in the U.S. experiencing an active measles outbreak.”
Maryland health officials confirmed five more measles cases, all in Carroll County.
“These individuals recently traveled together to a location in the U.S. experiencing an active measles outbreak,” the state Department of Health said in a release.
The agency said others may have been exposed on the afternoon of July 13 in the emergency department waiting room at Carroll Hospital Center in Westminster.
Another measles case recently prompted warnings from health officials in Maryland, Virginia and the District. On June 17, a Maryland resident traveled through Dulles International Airport and visited a D.C. urgent care clinic.
Measles is highly contagious. It can spread through the air through coughs, breathing, and sneezes. Early symptoms can include fevers of over 101 degrees, coughs, runny noses, watery eyes and face or body rashes.
It can take up to 21 days after exposure for the first symptoms to appear, and those who are not fully vaccinated or otherwise immune to measles are especially vulnerable.
The five new measles cases in Maryland bring the state’s year-to-date total to nine. The state health department confirmed three cases in 2025, and one in each of the previous two years.
“All Marylanders should review potential exposure times, watch for symptoms, and confirm they are up to date on their measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccinations,” the health department said.
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Baltimore may be under an extreme heat alert, but residents can dream about autumn, as tickets are now on sale for the Maryland Fall Home & Garden + Craft Show returning to the Maryland State Fairgrounds in October.
This three-day celebration of home and garden takes place from Friday, Oct. 16 through Sunday, Oct. 18 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. Expect hundreds of exhibitors, local makers, home improvement experts, family-friendly experiences and celebrity guests. The show offers everyone the chance to explore the very latest in home improvement, landscaping, outdoor living and decor, the chance to take part in hands-on experiences, and do some holiday shopping all under one roof.
This year’s show will have more than 300 exhibitors, including more than 100 crafters from around Maryland in the Makers Market. There will be unique exhibits, stage presentations and a special appearance by Chase Morrill, Ashley Morrill-Eldridge and Ryan Eldridge from Magnolia Network’s hit series “Maine Cabin Masters.” The three will have two Main Stage appearances, one on Friday, Oct. 16 at 4 p.m. and the second on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 12 p.m.
“As temperatures start to drop and the holiday season comes into view, the Maryland Fall Home & Garden + Craft Show is a place to gather ideas, meet local experts and get inspired before the busy season begins,” said Dave Paul, show manager, in a statement. “Whether attendees are planning a home project, looking for outdoor living ideas or getting a head start on holiday shopping, the show brings together resources and experiences for every kind of homeowner, maker and DIY enthusiast.”
In addition to the Makers Market and stars of “Maine Cabin Masters”, the Maryland Fall Home & Garden + Craft Show will have a petting zoo, a Kids Market where attendees can shop from local children, and much more.
Tickets are available online and at the door. Prices are as follows:
Online:
- Adults: $8
- Senior Citizens (60+): $6
- Children (ages 6-12): $4
- 4-Pack Online: $30 for four tickets, valid for one admission each and one day only
At the door:
- Adults: $10
- Senior Citizens (60+): $8
- Children (ages 6-12): $4
- Friday & Saturday: $4 after 4 p.m. at the door only
Special Offers:
- Active and retired military personnel, veterans, firefighters and police officers receive free admission all weekend, along with one guest, with valid ID at the box office.
- Attendees who show a CharmPass app, Light RailLink ticket or eligible transit pass at the box office receive free admission any day of the show. One admission is available per pass.
The Maryland State Fairgrounds is located at 2200 York Road in Lutherville-Timonium.
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