Chad Brown-trained horse Iron Honor heads into the 2026 Preakness Stakes as the current favorite. However, a racing insider believes there are two other legit contenders to win Saturday’s race.
The second leg of this year’s Triple Crown arrives this weekend with the 151st edition of the Preakness Stakes. This year is different from recent editions because only three competitors from the Kentucky Derby will be in Laurel Park on Saturday, and none of them is race winner Golden Tempo.
Ahead of Saturday’s race, Iron Honor, the horse trained by two-time Preakness winner Chad Brown, is the favorite. And according to racing insider Byron King, we may get the best version yet of the three-year-old colt.
“[Iron Honor] is projected as the slight 9-2 favorite largely because of the success of trainer Chad Brown, who has won this race twice before with fresh horses that skipped the Kentucky Derby,” King told Sportsnaut. “Iron Honor is racing with his “blinkers off,” which usually helps a horse settle and relax, and many believe he will run much better than his seventh-place finish in the Wood Memorial.
“… I like Iron Honor quite a bit. Especially with the “blinkers off” angle, which suggests the horse is more seasoned.”
Other horses to watch at 2026 Preakness Stakes, including The Hell We Did
Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
For bettors, that is helpful information, but they want to know the horses with longer odds that could deliver a big return on Win, Place, and Show bets. King suggests quite a few of the Preakness competitors offer upside, especially if they are locally bred in Maryland.
“You are going to have a lot of horses in the 5-1 to 15-1 range where you can make a case for them,” King said. “Some tried-and-true methods, like picking the Derby winner, don’t exist this year. There could also be more of a home track edge since the race is at Laurel Park this year instead of Pimlico.”
Also Read:: 2026 Preakness Stakes Horses: Ranking All 14 Competitors & Prediction For Race Winner
One local competitor, the racing insider believes is a contender for good reason, is the Brittany Russell-trained colt Taj Mahal. However, he does have concerns about how he will be able to handle a more talented field.
“Taj Mahal has been based in Maryland, so he has a ‘home track edge,” says King. “He has shown early speed in previous long-distance races, but he faces a lot of speed in this field and is drawn in the inside post position. I would be surprised if he wins, as it is a big step up from beating Laurel Stakes horses to winning the Preakness.”
When it comes to sleeper picks in this year’s Stakes, a name that King is high on is Todd Fincher-trained colt The Hell We Did.
“I also like a horse named The Hell We Did. He ran a strong second in the Lexington Stakes and has a great pedigree as a half-brother to Saudi Cup winner Senor Buscador,” said King.
Related Headlines
-
2026 Preakness Stakes Horses: Ranking All 14 Competitors & Prediction For Race Winner
-
Final Ranking of All 19 Kentucky Derby Horses & Best Bets to Win, Place & Show on Saturday
-
2026 Kentucky Derby: What You Need To Know on May 2, Including Start Time & Latest Odds
