The late-blooming Dragoon Guard will try to become a Grade 1 winner when he leaves the starting gate in the 2024 Pennsylvania Derby on Saturday at Parx outside Philadelphia. Trained by Brad Cox, Dragoon Guard has won four straight races since finishing second in his career debut. He is coming off a victory in the West Virginia Derby. For Saturday he has been installed as the 9-5 morning-line favorite in the 2024 Pennsylvania Derby odds. Santa Anita Derby winner Stronghold is the 5-2 second choice among the 11 Pennsylvania Derby horses. Post time for the $1 million race is 6:10 p.m. ET.

With several accomplished horses set to enter the starting gate on Saturday, you'll want to see what SportsLine writer Gene Menez has to say before making any Pennsylvania Derby picks or horse racing predictions. Join SportsLine here to get his full Pennsylvania Derby picks.

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, and hit the Pick 4, which paid almost $6,900 on a $1 bet. Join SportsLine right here to see his 2024 Pennsylvania Derby picks.

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. In May, Menez gave out 18-1 Mystik Dan as a live longshot in the Kentucky Derby. In June he nailed Trikari to win the Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes, and two weeks ago he hit the exacta in the Franklin-Simpson Stakes.

Now, Menez has looked at the 2024 Pennsylvania Derby, made his picks and formulated his bets. Join SportsLine here to see them.

We can tell you that Menez is high on Timeout, a 10-1 longshot. "With this draw, he could very well get a perfect trip along the rail behind the speed on Saturday," Menez told SportsLine. Menez is using Timeout prominently in his wagers. 

Moreover, Menez's top pick is a longshot who "will be tough to beat." Menez also is high on a double-digit longshot who is "sneaky." He is including these horses in his wagers, and so should you. You absolutely need to see which horses they are before making any 2024 Pennsylvania Derby picks of your own.

So what horse wins the 2024 Pennsylvania Derby? What double-digit longshot is a must-back? And how has Menez constructed his wagers? ... Join SportsLine now to get the top 2024 Pennsylvania Derby picks and bets, all from the expert who gave out 18-1 Mystik Dan as a live longshot in the Kentucky Derby!