The 2026 Preakness Stakes will feature 14 horses — the largest field in 15 years — when the middle jewel of the Triple Crown runs Saturday at approximately 7:01 p.m. ET. Derby winner Golden Tempo is not entered, marking the third time in five years the Kentucky Derby victor skips the Preakness. This year’s renewal is being run at Laurel Park while Baltimore’s Pimlico Race Course undergoes redevelopment; the Preakness is expected to return to the new Pimlico next year.
Morning-line favorite and general notes
– Iron Honor drew the morning-line favorite at 9-2 after being named the post-position draw favorite. The bay colt did not run in the Kentucky Derby; he won the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct in February but finished seventh in the Wood Memorial. Flavien Prat, who rode Emerging Market to 10th in the Derby, will have the mount. Trainer Chad Brown is seeking his third Preakness win (Cloud Computing in 2017, Early Voting in 2022).
Key contenders and connections
– Taj Mahal (Post 1, 5-1): Undefeated coming into the Preakness with victories at Laurel Park including the Miracle Wood Stakes and the Federico Tesio. Trained by Brittany Russell, Taj Mahal will break from the rail — a position that can be advantageous but also risks getting boxed in early. Sheldon Russell, who rode the colt in his three wins, will be aboard for the Preakness. If successful, Brittany Russell would join a small group of women who have saddled Preakness runners and follow this month’s historic female-trained Derby winner.
– Chip Honcho (Post 6, 5-1): Skipped the Derby to target the Preakness after a fifth-place finish in the Louisiana Derby. The colt has stakes form at Fair Grounds (Gun Runner Stakes winner, second in the Risen Star) and will be ridden by Jose Ortiz. Steve Asmussen trains Chip Honcho; this will be another in a long list of Preakness starters for Asmussen, a two-time winner of the race (Curlin, Rachel Alexandra).
– Incredibolt (Post 12, 5-1): Finished sixth in the Kentucky Derby and has stakes wins that include the Virginia Derby and last October’s Street Sense Stakes at Churchill Downs. Jaime Torres, who won the 2024 Preakness aboard Seize the Grey, returns to ride. This will be Riley Mott’s first Preakness as a trainer (father Bill Mott previously ran horses in the race).
– Ocelli (Post 2, 6-1): Third in the Kentucky Derby and a contender with prior graded stakes starts including the Sam F. Davis. Tyler Gaffalione will ride; trainer Whit Beckman will make his Preakness debut.
– Napoleon Solo (Post 10, 8-1): Most recently ran in the Wood Memorial; earlier won the Champagne Stakes last fall. Paco Lopez picks up the mount for trainer Chad Summers, who is sending his first Preakness runner.
Other runners and morning-line odds (by post position)
1. Taj Mahal — 5-1
2. Ocelli — 6-1
3. Crupper — 30-1
4. Robusta — 30-1
5. Talkin — 20-1
6. Chip Honcho — 5-1
7. The Hell We Did — 15-1
8. Bull by the Horns — 30-1
9. Iron Honor — 9-2
10. Napoleon Solo — 8-1
11. Corona de Oro — 30-1
12. Incredibolt — 5-1
13. Great White — 15-1
14. Pretty Boy Miah — 15-1
Odds groups noted in the morning line: three horses at 5-1 (Taj Mahal, Chip Honcho, Incredibolt); a cluster at 15-1 (Great White, Pretty Boy Miah, The Hell We Did); and four longshots listed at 30-1 (Bull by the Horns, Corona de Oro, Crupper, Robusta). Those morning-line odds will shift as wagering builds toward post time.
Historical context
– Fourteen starters last appeared in the Preakness in 2011, when Shackleford defeated Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom. Chad Brown, Brittany Russell, Steve Asmussen and other experienced trainers bring notable pedigrees and jockey pairings to this year’s field, while several trainers and jockeys are making their first Preakness appearances.
What to watch
– How Taj Mahal handles the rail in his first start beyond Laurel against a deeper, more diverse field.
– Iron Honor’s tactical placement under Flavien Prat after skipping the Derby.
– Whether Derby-tested horses like Ocelli, Incredibolt and Napoleon Solo can leverage their recent Classic experience against fresh challengers who skipped the Derby.
The Preakness field and odds are set to evolve as bettors place their wagers through Saturday. Post time is scheduled for about 7:01 p.m. ET; the race will be broadcast and covered widely across racing outlets and national news organizations.