The 2026 Preakness Stakes will take place Saturday at Laurel Park. Here’s a look at the 14-horse field and expected contenders after Monday night’s post position draw:
Taj Mahal, post position 1
A potential favorite of Maryland fans, Taj Mahal has raced three times in his career and won all three times. Each race took place at Laurel Park, the host of this year’s Preakness Stakes. Brittany Russell trains Taj Mahal, and her husband Sheldon rides the horse. They’ll look to maintain their success in Laurel this weekend.
If Taj Mahal crosses the line first, Brittany Russell will become the first female trainer to win the Preakness Stakes.
Opening odds: 5/1
Ocelli, post position 2
A 70-1 longshot to win the Kentucky Derby, Ocelli nearly shocked the horse racing world by winning. A third-place finish was still a pleasant surprise, and the horse will look for similar success this weekend at Laurel Park with much shorter odds.
Odds: 6/1
Crupper, post position 3
Crupper’s jockey will generate plenty of headlines, as Junior Alvarado will ride the horse. Alvarado famously rode Sovereignty to Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes wins a year ago. Can he recreate that magic Saturday on a different horse?
Odds: 30/1
Robusta, post position 4
One of the few Kentucky Derby finishers to also attend this year’s Preakness, Robusta finished 14th at Churchill Downs last month. The horse is trained by Doug O’Neill, winner of the 2012 Preakness.
Odds: 30/1
Talkin, post position 5
The horse finished third in the Blue Grass Stakes on April and is trained by Danny Green. Talkin is not one of the few favorites to win this weekend’s race, though.
Odds: 20/1
Chip Honcho, post position 6
A potential winner who had the necessary qualifications to race in the Kentucky Derby, Chip Honcho might be best-suited for the limited crowd at this year’s Preakness. At least, that’s what trainer Steve Asmussen told Daily Racing Form.
“Limited attendance at Laurel as opposed to what they get in that run to the first turn for the Derby, this gives him a way better chance to show who he was,” Asmussen told the publication.
The horse is prone to overexertion in front of large crowds, making a smaller Preakness Stakes an ideal spot to compete in front of a national audience. The odds reflect as much.
Odds: 5/1
The Hell We Did, post position 7
Runner-up at the Lexington Stakes on April 11, The Hell We Did has two victories and two runner-up finishes in four career races. The horse is trained by Todd Fincher and has middle-of-the-pack opening odds.
Odds: 15-1
Bull By The Horns, post position 8
The winner of the Rushaway Stakes in March, Bull By The Horns will be jockeyed by Micah Husbands. The horse is considered a longshot this weekend.
Odds: 30/1
Iron Honor, post position 9
Trained by two-time Preakness winner Chad Brown, Iron Honor skipped the Kentucky Derby in favor of the Preakness Stakes. The horse is looking to bounce back after finishing seventh in late April at the Wood Memorial Stakes, a race it entered as the favorite.
The expectations are high again this week, as Iron Honor is the morning-line favorite.
Odds: 9/2
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Napoleon Solo, post position 10
A fifth-place finisher in his two most recent races — Fountain of Youth and the Wood Memorial — Napoleon Solo is considered a sneaky contender this weekend. The horse trained by Chad Summers isn’t in the first few favorites, but has the promise to compete for a title in an open field.
Odds: 8/1
Corona De Oro, post position 11
A longshot this weekend, Corona De Oro enters the race with a well-known jockey in John Velazquez. He won the 2023 Preakness on National Treasure.
Odds: 30/1
Incredibolt, post position 12
The sixth-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby, Incredibolt is one of the favorites for this year’s Preakness Stakes. Trained by Riley Mott, Incredibolt will have Jaimie Torres as its jockey. Torres is 1-for-1 at the Preakness, winning the 2024 race on Seize the Grey.
Odds: 5/1
Great White, post position 13
Scheduled to compete in the Kentucky Derby, Great White got startled near the starting gates and fell onto its back, flipping its jockey onto the ground. After the mandatory scratch, the horse returns to action in another prominent event.
Odds: 15/1
Pretty Boy Miah, post position 14
A late addition to the field, Pretty Boy Miah has won his past two races. He’s shown improvement in races since adding blinders, and trainer Jeremiah Englehart will see how his horse can compete in a bigger race.
Odds: 15/1
Have a news tip? Contact Bennett Conlin at bconlin@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/BennettConlin.
