Jim Dandy Stakes 2024 predictions, horses, odds, time: Surprising picks by expert who nailed Kentucky Derby

Reigning juvenile champion and Florida Derby winner Fierceness will attempt to bounce back from his worst career defeat when he leaves the starting gate in the 2024 Jim Dandy Stakes on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Fierceness has three wins in six career starts, including last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile. However, he has not started since finishing 15th and losing by more than 24 lengths as the favorite in the Kentucky Derby. On Saturday, he is the 9-5 second choice in the 2024 Jim Dandy Stakes odds.

Blue Grass Stakes winner Sierra Leone is the 1-1 favorite among the 2024 Jim Dandy Stakes horses. Batten Down (5-1), Seize the Grey (6-1), Gould's Gold (15-1) and Pony Express (20-1) complete the six-horse 2024 Jim Dandy Stakes field. Post time for the $500,000 race is 5:43 p.m. ET. With an accomplished field set to enter the starting gate on Saturday, you'll want to see what SportsLine writer Gene Menez has to say before making any Jim Dandy Stakes picks or horse racing predictions .

A former reporter and editor at Sports Illustrated, Menez covered an array of sports, including horse racing, for the magazine and its website for almost 14 years. Between 2010 and 2012, he served as SI's handicapper for the Triple Crown races and correctly predicted Super Saver to win the Kentucky Derby in 2010.

In 2015, while writing for Sports on Earth, Menez accurately gave out the Kentucky Derby superfecta (American Pharoah, Firing Line, Dortmund and Frosted), which paid $1,268.20 for $2. Then in 2017, he tweeted out his Kentucky Derby picks, including Always Dreaming to win. He also hit the Pick 4, which paid almost $6,900 on a $1 bet.

In a span of seven races last year for SportsLine, he cashed the winner of the Lecomte Stakes, the exacta in the Southwest Stakes, the winner of the Holy Bull Stakes, the winner of the Sam F. Davis Stakes, and the trifecta in the Jenny Wiley Stakes. He also nailed National Treasure's win in the Preakness.

In May he gave out 18-1 Mystik Dan as a live longshot in the Kentucky Derby. And last month he nailed Trikari to win the Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes.

For Saturday, Menez has handicapped the 2024 Jim Dandy Stakes field, made his picks and constructed his best bets. You can head to SportsLine now to see them .

Top 2024 Jim Dandy Stakes predictions

One surprise: Menez is completely fading Sierra Leone, even though he is the even-money favorite. A $2.3 million purchase two years ago, Sierra Leone already has earned more than $2.1 million in his career. However, he hasn't won since rallying in the stretch in the Blue Grass Stakes in April.

Sierra Leone cost himself victory in the Kentucky Derby with his inability to run straight down the stretch. "I can't bet any even-money favorite who is his own worst enemy with all of his quirks and antics," Menez told SportsLine. Sierra Leone does not appear in any of Menez's wagers. You can see all of Menez's 2024 Jim Dandy Stakes bets here .

How to make 2024 Jim Dandy Stakes picks

Instead, Menez's pick is a longshot who "has a ton of upside." He is including this horse in his wagers, and so should you. He's sharing what horse to back at SportsLine .

So what longshot wins Jim Dandy Stakes 2024? And how has Menez constructed his wagers? Visit SportsLine to see Menez's picks for the Jim Dandy Stakes, all from the expert who gave out 18-1 Mystik Dan as a live longshot in the Kentucky Derby , and find out.

2024 Jim Dandy Stakes odds, contenders, post positions