While the top two finishers in the Kentucky Derby (G1) thriller earlier this month, Golden Tempo and Renegade, could face off in the $2-million Belmont Stakes (G1) June 6 at Saratoga, one of summer's premier events, the $1-million Haskell (G1) July 18 at Monmouth Park, could see a showdown between Preakness (G1) winner Napoleon Solo and runner-up Iron Honor.
Both Napoleon Solo, trained by Chad Summers, and Iron Honor, conditioned by Chad Brown, have returned to their New York bases following Saturday's middle jewel of the Triple Crown at Laurel Park, David Grening of Daily Racing Form reports.
Summers told the Form that Napoleon Solo will get five days off, then a plan will be made toward getting him to the Haskell, which may or may not include a prep race.
"If there’s a prep, there's a prep; if there’s not, there’s not," Summers said. "At this point, we’re comfortable; from a fitness standpoint, cutting back in distance to a mile-and-an-eighth at Monmouth, I think that’s within his wheelhouse. We’ll let him tell us what he wants to do.”
Brown said Iron Honor is likely to train up to the 1 1/8-mile Haskell.
The Nyquist colt who finished 1 1/4 lengths behind Napoleon Solo in Saturday's Preakness also finished behind him in his start prior to that when seventh in the Wood Memorial (G2) in April at Aqueduct while Napoleon Solo was fifth. He had a bit of a wide trip in the Preakness, sans blinkers, but had Napoleon Solo in his sights in the final furlong while making a determined run, though he flattened out in the final sixteenth, failing to catch the winner.
While removing the equipment helped the colt relax in Saturday's race, he dropped the bit at one point in the race, just as Brown figured could happen.
“He relaxed, he even dropped the bit at the three-eighths and (Flavien) Prat said ‘I thought he was backing up,’ " Brown said. “I warned him he’ll do that without these blinkers. I said we put them on for his debut because he’s very lazy and now he’s pulling. When I take them off, don’t be surprised if he drops the bit midway through the race; if you ask him he comes back again, but that’s just how he is and [Prat] said, ‘You were exactly right.’ ”
Chip Honcho and Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Ocelli, the third- and fourth-place finishers in the Preakness, are under consideration for the Belmont, their connections told the Form.
Preakness fifth-place finisher Incredibolt, sixth in the Louisville classic, could aim for regional events such as the Indiana Derby (G2) July 11 at Horseshoe Indianapolis or Ohio Derby (G3) June 20 at Thistledown.
“Maybe not the worst effort in the world, but we were disappointed we couldn’t get there,” trainer Riley Mott told the Form about the colt's Preakness run. “We thought it was a pretty winnable race for the horse.”
Stablemate Albus, who defeated both Napoleon Solo and Iron Honor in the Wood Memorial, then was 15th in the Kentucky Derby, is aimed for Indiana Derby.
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This story was originally published by Paulick Report on May 17, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Paulick Report as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
