2026 Preakness Stakes Contenders: Full Field Guide, Early Odds And Form
The 2026 Preakness Stakes is the 151st running of the second jewel of the Triple Crown. It takes place on Saturday, May 16 at Laurel Park, Maryland, with a 7:01 p.m. ET post time and a $2 million purse. For the first time in the race's 118-year modern history it is not being run at Pimlico Race Course, which is currently undergoing a $400 million redevelopment. Pimlico is expected to host the Preakness again from 2027 onwards under a Churchill Downs Inc. licence.
The Kentucky Derby winner, Golden Tempo, will not run. Trainer Cherie DeVaux — whose victory at Churchill Downs made her the first woman to train a Derby winner — has pointed her colt toward the Belmont Stakes on June 6 at Saratoga. With the likely Triple Crown favourite absent, the 2026 Preakness is a genuinely wide-open renewal and one of the most competitive editions in recent memory.
The Laurel Park Track: What It Means For This Field
Laurel Park's main oval is 1⅛ miles in circumference, making it a significantly bigger track than Pimlico's one-mile circuit. The turns are wider and more sweeping, which in theory gives less of a rail-hugging advantage than at Old Hilltop. However, the stretch configuration for the Preakness adds a critical complication.
The race finishes at Laurel's first finish line — 330 feet up from the clubhouse turn — reducing the homestretch to just 1,014 feet. That is shorter than Pimlico's 1,152-foot stretch and shorter even than Belmont Park's 1,097 feet. The result is a track that looks like it suits closers on paper (wide turns, bigger oval) but then cuts off their closing room at precisely the point they need it most. Pace analysts expect up to ten horses to show early-speed preferences in a 14-horse field. That dynamic favours horses with tactical speed who can sit close to the pace without burning themselves out, rather than pure deep closers who need a long, clear run.
Inside posts have also dominated Laurel's 1⅛-mile two-turn races over the past two-plus years, with starters from posts 1-3 winning 55% of contests. Whether that translates directly to the 1’/16-mile Preakness trip is debatable, but post one for Taj Mahal and post two for Ocelli carry historical weight worth noting.
The 2026 Preakness Stakes: Full Field Table
| Post | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Sire | Last Race | ML Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Taj Mahal | Brittany Russell | Sheldon Russell | Nyquist | Won Federico Tesio (Laurel Park, Apr 18) | +500 |
| 2 | Ocelli | Whit Beckman | Tyler Gaffalione | Connect | 3rd Grade 1 Kentucky Derby (May 2) | +600 |
| 3 | Crupper | Donnie Von Hemel | Junior Alvarado | Candy Ride | Won Bathhouse Row Stakes (Oaklawn, Apr 18) | +3000 |
| 4 | Robusta | Doug O'Neill | Rafael Bejarano | Accelerate | 14th Grade 1 Kentucky Derby (May 2) | +3000 |
| 5 | Talkin | Danny Gargan | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Good Magic | 3rd Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes (Apr 4) | +2000 |
| 6 | Chip Honcho | Steve Asmussen | Jose Ortiz | Connect | 5th Grade 2 Louisiana Derby (Mar 21) | +500 |
| 7 | The Hell We Did | Todd Fincher | Luis Saez | Authentic | 2nd Stonestreet Lexington Stakes (Keeneland) | +1500 |
| 8 | Bull By The Horns | Saffie Joseph Jr. | Micah Husbands | — | Won Rushaway Stakes (Turfway Park) | +3000 |
| 9 | Iron Honor | Chad Brown | Flavien Prat | Nyquist | 7th Grade 2 Wood Memorial (Apr) | +450 |
| 10 | Napoleon Solo | Chad Summers | Paco Lopez | Liam's Map | 5th Grade 2 Wood Memorial (Apr) | +800 |
| 11 | Corona de Oro | Dallas Stewart | John Velazquez | — | 3rd Stonestreet Lexington Stakes (Keeneland) | +3000 |
| 12 | Incredibolt | Riley Mott | Jaime Torres | Bolt d'Oro | 6th Grade 1 Kentucky Derby (May 2) | +500 |
| 13 | Great White | John Ennis | Alex Achard | — | Scratched Kentucky Derby (gate incident) | +1500 |
| 14 | Pretty Boy Miah | Jeremiah Englehart | Ricardo Santana Jr. | — | Won starter allowance (Aqueduct area) | +1500 |
The 2026 Preakness Stakes: Full Field Profiles
Below is the complete guide to all 14 runners, listed by post position. Moneyline odds are morning-line as of May 13 and subject to change before Saturday's post time.
Post 1: Taj Mahal | Odds: +500
Trainer: Brittany Russell | Jockey: Sheldon Russell | Sire: Nyquist
Form summary: 3 starts, 3 wins. Won Federico Tesio Stakes by 8¼ lengths (Apr 18, Laurel Park, 1⅛ miles).
The local favourite and unbeaten in three runs, all at Laurel Park, where he is based year-round. His Federico Tesio demolition came at the Preakness trip, which means he is the only runner in the field with genuine experience at this track at this distance. Trainer Brittany Russell is the story: she would become the first female trainer to win the Preakness if Taj Mahal prevails. Her husband Sheldon takes the ride.
The genuine concern is class. He has not faced any horse from the Kentucky Derby trail and his Federico Tesio opposition was modest. Expert analysts who have graded the field closely, including Jody Demling of SportsLine, do not have him in the top three despite his odds. The track advantage is real; the question is whether it is enough.
Betting verdict: Compelling story and genuine home-track edge, but unproven against this calibre of opposition. +500 does not reflect that uncertainty. Use underneath in exotics.
Post 2: Ocelli | Odds: +600
Trainer: D. Whitworth Beckman | Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione | Sire: Connect
Form summary: 7 starts, 1 win, 3 second, 3 third. Third in Grade 1 Kentucky Derby (May 2, Churchill Downs).
The most intriguing profile in the field. Ocelli is still a maiden — he has never won a race — yet he finished a close third in the Kentucky Derby, leading at the sixteenth pole before Golden Tempo and Renegade ran him down. A Preakness win would make him the first maiden winner of the race since Refund in 1888.
His form pattern is tailor-made for a fast pace. He closed hard in both the Wood Memorial and the Derby from well off the speed, and the inside post at Laurel is ideal for a closer who needs a clean passage. With ten speed horses creating a hot early tempo, Ocelli figures to be running past tired rivals in the final stages. The abbreviated 1,014-foot homestretch is the one concern — he needs to be close enough turning for home to complete his rally.
Betting verdict: Best value in the field at +600. Derby form is the most credible evidence, post two is ideal, pace setup suits. Legitimate win selection.
Post 3: Crupper | Odds: +3000
Trainer: Donnie Von Hemel | Jockey: Junior Alvarado | Sire: Candy Ride
Form summary: 6 starts, 1 win, 3 placed. Won Bathhouse Row Stakes (Apr 18, Oaklawn Park).
Earned a free Preakness berth by winning the Bathhouse Row Stakes in a front-running effort, holding on by half a length after setting a steady pace. The step up in class here is enormous. Von Hemel noted pre-race that navigating a 14-horse field from post three is a logistical challenge. Junior Alvarado retains the ride.
Betting verdict: Limited class credentials. Exotic use only at a very long price.
Post 4: Robusta | Odds: +3000
Trainer: Doug O'Neill | Jockey: Rafael Bejarano | Sire: Accelerate
Form summary: 6 starts, 2 wins. 14th in Grade 1 Kentucky Derby (May 2, Churchill Downs).
One of three Derby returnees, Robusta ran 14th from the widest post in the field (post 18) at Churchill Downs, telling us little about his ceiling. Trainer Doug O'Neill argues the post and conditions conspired against him and reports a fit, eager horse heading to Laurel. The shorter field and cleaner run-in of the Preakness are genuine improvements.
However, an uncompetitive Santa Anita Derby before the Kentucky Derby means two poor performances in succession. Rafael Bejarano takes the mount.
Betting verdict: Hard to justify on recent form at this level. Toss.
Post 5: Talkin | Odds: +2000
Trainer: Danny Gargan | Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr. | Sire: Good Magic
Form summary: 5 starts, 1 win, 2 placed. Third in Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes (Apr 4, Keeneland).
A legitimate live long shot. Talkin was runner-up to Napoleon Solo in the Grade 1 Champagne at two and returned this year to run third in the Blue Grass at Keeneland. His best running style is as a stalker, settling off the pace and finishing strongly — a profile that suits a hot-paced Preakness. Trainer Danny Gargan reports strong recent works and Irad Ortiz Jr., seeking his first Preakness win, is among the finest jockeys in North America.
The caveat that applies to every closer in this field applies here: the 1,014-foot homestretch at Laurel limits the runway. Talkin needs to be close enough to the pace turning for home to deliver his best.
Betting verdict: +2000 represents real value if the pace scenario unfolds as expected. Small win bet and solid exotic inclusion.
Post 6: Chip Honcho | Odds: +500
Trainer: Steve Asmussen | Jockey: Jose Ortiz | Sire: Connect
Form summary: 6 starts, 4 wins, 2 placed. Fifth in Grade 2 Louisiana Derby (Mar 21, Fair Grounds).
Post six has produced 17 Preakness winners in history, including Rombauer as recently as 2021. Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen won the Preakness with Curlin in 2007 and Rachel Alexandra in 2009. Jockey Jose Ortiz was aboard Golden Tempo when the Derby winner made history at Churchill Downs and brings that momentum into this race. The alignment of post, trainer pedigree, and jockey quality is as strong as anything in the field.
Chip Honcho's form is solid throughout — wins in the Gun Runner Stakes and a runner-up in the Risen Star before the Louisiana Derby blip. A strong 1:00 flat five-furlong work on Derby morning suggests he is training into this in good order. His running style — pressing the pace and kicking clear in the stretch — suits the shorter 1,014-foot homestretch better than pure closers, who need more ground.
Betting verdict: Primary win selection. Post six, Hall of Fame trainer, Derby-winning jockey, and tactical speed all converge. +500 is fair.
Post 7: The Hell We Did | Odds: +1500
Trainer: Todd Fincher | Jockey: Luis Saez | Sire: Authentic
Form summary: 4 starts, 2 wins, 2 placed. Runner-up in Stonestreet Lexington Stakes (Keeneland).
Lightly raced and arguably less exposed than almost anything in the field. He dominated a Sunland Park allowance by 13 lengths in his three-year-old debut, then ran second in the Lexington at Keeneland — sat just off Corona de Oro, passed him in the stretch, and was caught by the longshot winner. Four career runs, all in stakes company, two wins and two placed. Luis Saez rides from a workable post seven.
Betting verdict: Interesting upside play at +1500. Needs to step forward but has the profile to do so. Solid exotic inclusion.
Post 8: Bull By The Horns | Odds: +3000
Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr. | Jockey: Micah Husbands | Sire: Not publicly listed
Form summary: Won Rushaway Stakes (Turfway Park, all-weather surface).
Won his Preakness qualifier on the synthetic at Turfway Park and has limited form on dirt at this level. Saffie Joseph Jr. ships him from Florida. He reunites with Micah Husbands, who has ridden him in three of his career starts, and the pace scenario theoretically benefits his closing style. Proving himself on dirt against graded competition is an open question.
Betting verdict: Needs to prove himself on the dirt at this level. Superfecta use only at a long price.
Post 9: Iron Honor | Odds: +450
Trainer: Chad Brown | Jockey: Flavien Prat | Sire: Nyquist
Form summary: 3 starts, 2 wins. Won Gotham Stakes G3 (Feb 28, Aqueduct). Seventh in Grade 2 Wood Memorial.
The morning-line favourite and the holder of the most compelling trainer-jockey narrative in the field. Chad Brown has won the Preakness twice by running the Wood Memorial, skipping the Derby, and targeting the Preakness directly — with Cloud Computing in 2017 and Early Voting in 2022. Flavien Prat won the 2021 Preakness aboard Rombauer. Both men know exactly what winning this race looks like.
Iron Honor's two wins — a maiden debut at Aqueduct in December and a Gotham Stakes victory in February — showed an intelligent, pace-pressing trip both times. The Wood Memorial seventh is the form blot but comes with a clear explanation: he drew the widest post in the full field and never found his position. Brown announced the Preakness as the target immediately after. A sharp Belmont work in 48 seconds flat, 10th fastest of nearly 200 horses on the day, signals that he has trained well into this.
Post nine in a 14-horse field requires a clean break and experienced pilot. Prat is as good a choice as exists in American racing.
Betting verdict: Legitimate favourite on trainer blueprint and class. The Wood Memorial is forgivable but raises a question that only Saturday answers. Worth a saver bet; Chip Honcho is preferred at the same odds.
Post 10: Napoleon Solo | Odds: +800
Trainer: Chad Summers | Jockey: Paco Lopez | Sire: Liam's Map
Form summary: 4 starts, 2 wins. Won Grade 1 Champagne Stakes (Oct, Aqueduct) by 6.5 lengths. Fifth in Wood Memorial.
The highest-ceiling longshot in the field if — and it is a significant if — he is returning to his juvenile form. The Champagne victory at two was extraordinary: fractions of 22.53 and 44.24 for the first two calls, with a six-furlong split three-tenths off Aqueduct's all-time track record. As a three-year-old, however, setbacks have plagued him: a delayed debut, then a heel bruise before the Wood Memorial that had him in an egg shoe on race day. He led into the stretch at the Wood before fading to fifth.
Two blazing works in late April and early May — the second a 1:10 flat six-furlong move he completed unprompted — have trainer Chad Summers cautiously optimistic. He is a natural pace horse who will be prominent from the break and, if his talent has returned, is the most dangerous horse in the field at 8-1.
Betting verdict: +800 represents genuine value if the works are to be believed. Small win bet justified; must include in all exotics.
Post 11: Corona de Oro | Odds: +3000
Trainer: Dallas Stewart | Jockey: John Velazquez | Sire: Not publicly listed
Form summary: Third in Stonestreet Lexington Stakes (Keeneland). Failed to draw into the Kentucky Derby.
Missed the Kentucky Derby after failing to draw in off the also-eligible list, which makes his Preakness campaign an alternative route rather than a planned Triple Crown bid. Dallas Stewart has been Preakness runner-up twice and will have a tactical plan. John Velazquez, at 54, would become the oldest jockey to win the race if successful. From post 11, he faces a difficult task setting pace with ten other speed horses inside him.
Betting verdict: Too much pace competition from a wide post. Toss for win; minor exotics only.
Post 12: Incredibolt | Odds: +500
Trainer: Riley Mott | Jockey: Jaime Torres | Sire: Bolt d'Oro
Form summary: 6 starts, 3 wins. Sixth in Grade 1 Kentucky Derby (May 2). Won Virginia Derby (Mar 14) by four lengths.
Added to the field late after Express Kid's defection and completes a trio of Derby returnees. His Derby sixth is better than the number suggests: Mott and Torres confirmed he had to alter wide around multiple horses into the lane and still finished within four lengths of Golden Tempo. His Virginia Derby win before the Derby was a commanding four-length performance.
Torres won the 2024 Preakness aboard Seize the Grey and is one of the most live young riders in the country. He and Mott are comfortable with post 12, arguing the horse's tactical pressing style means he does not need to be up close from the break. The concern is the wide gate in a 14-horse field at a track with an abbreviated final stretch.
Betting verdict: Genuine contender on form and with Torres in the saddle. Wide draw is a slight negative. Strong trifecta/superfecta inclusion at the price.
Post 13: Great White | Odds: +1500
Trainer: John Ennis | Jockey: Alex Achard | Sire: Not publicly listed
Form summary: Was a last-minute Derby scratch after a gate incident. Fifth in Blue Grass Stakes (Keeneland).
Scratched from the Kentucky Derby on the morning of the race after a problem approaching the starting gate, which interrupts any form building from his Blue Grass run. Trainer John Ennis reports him fresh and eager pre-race. From post 13 in a 14-horse field, he faces significant ground-loss issues. The Blue Grass showed some promise but he was beaten 22 lengths that day.
Betting verdict: Too much ground to make up from a wide post with limited form evidence. Toss.
Post 14: Pretty Boy Miah | Odds: +1500
Trainer: Jeremiah Englehart | Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr. | Sire: Not publicly listed
Form summary: Won a starter allowance race by nearly four lengths (most recent start). Broke maiden by six-plus lengths at Aqueduct.
The last horse into the field, named after his trainer, stepping up from allowance company to Grade 1 competition. He has shown early speed and progressive improvement in his limited career, but the class jump to the Preakness is enormous. Englehart acknowledged that the outside post required a clean break and aggressive early positioning. Ricardo Santana Jr. rides.
Betting verdict: Needs to prove he belongs at this level. Toss.
Key Race Details
Race: 151st Preakness Stakes (Grade 1)
Date: Saturday, May 16, 2026
Post time: 7:01 p.m. ET
Venue: Laurel Park, Laurel, Maryland (first time in race history)
Distance: 1 3/16 miles (9.5 furlongs)
Track circumference: 1⅛ miles (vs Pimlico's 1 mile)
Effective homestretch: 1,014 feet (shorter than Pimlico's 1,152 ft and Belmont's 1,097 ft)
Purse: $2 million
TV: NBC / Peacock (coverage from 1 p.m. ET)
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Image © "Preakness 2010" by John Athayde is licensed under CC BY 2.0
