2026 Preakness Brisnet Speed Rating Report

Saturday’s 151st running of the Preakness (G1) came up competitive. Laurel Park will play temporary host as Pimlico undergoes reconstruction, and while the 14-horse Preakness field clearly lacks the quality of the Kentucky Derby (G1) two weeks earlier, the 1 3/16-mile event should be appealing for horse players.

The morning line suggests five horses can compete for favoritism, with a slight 9-2 choice and four runners listed at 5-1. There hasn’t been a 10-horse Preakness field since 2021, with the last four editions averaging 8.3 runners.

I will highlight the Brisnet Speed ratings of this year’s contestants and provide analysis below for the top contenders, but let’s start with a look at recent Preakness winners.

Preakness winners

For the last five Preakness winners, the Brisnet Speed ratings earned in the two previous starts are listed below.

Journalism wheeled back for the Preakness following a runner-up effort as the favorite in the Kentucky Derby. Michael McCarthy had prepared the classy colt for the five-week Triple Crown series, and Journalism thrived on short rest, winning the Preakness as the even-money favorite.

Early Voting bypassed the Kentucky Derby after recording a neck second in the Wood Memorial (G2), a decision that paid off for the Chad Brown trainee. The speedy colt easily recorded his biggest win in a six-race career, holding off Kentucky Derby runner-up Epicenter by 1 1/4 lengths at Pimlico.

Seize the Grey, National Treasure, and Rombauer weren’t ready for the Kentucky Derby, saving their best for the second leg of the Triple Crown.

2026 Preakness field

I will focus on five Preakness runners who have separated themselves from the rest based on Brisnet Speed ratings.

A brilliant winner of the Federico Tesio on April 18, Taj Mahal brings a perfect record and home-court advantage to the Preakness, winning all three career starts at Laurel. His Speed ratings tower over many rivals, but Taj Mahal will face a class check.

Brittany Russell trains the Florida-bred son of Nyquist, and Taj Mahal jumped straight from a convincing six-furlong debut maiden win in early February to the one-mile Miracle Wood S. two weeks later, prevailing by a head after a courageous stretch duel. His overall Brisnet numbers have progressed favorably, registering big Early and Late Pace ratings rolling to an 8 1/4-length decision in the Federico Tesio. And while the last two wins have been gate-to-wire, Taj Mahal rated just off the early pace when breaking his maiden win. However, the rail draw limits jockey Sheldon Russell’s options, and Taj Mahal figures to be prominent from the break.

Still winless from seven starts, Ocelli appears to be discovering his best form presently for Whit Beckman, offering an eye-catching rally off the far turn in the Kentucky Derby, eventually striking the front in deep stretch before being denied by Golden Tempo and Renegade in the final strides. And the late runner projects to receive another favorable setup in the Preakness, given the number of early speed types entered.

After placing in three consecutive maiden races, Ocelli logged a pair of sixths versus stakes rivals in the Sam F. Davis and Virginia Derby. He began to turn his form around in Wood Memorial (G2), recording an encouraging third. And after coming up a little short at Churchill Downs, Ocelli will look to make a serious late impact at Laurel.

A surprise addition to the Preakness, Incredibolt exited his sixth in the Kentucky Derby in good order and won’t face the same level of competition in the second leg of the Triple Crown. The stalker didn’t fire his best effort when opening 2026 in the Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream Park but appreciated the class relief in March’s Virginia Derby, rolling to a four-length victory and netting a 100 Speed rating. Incredibolt will be one of only two runners in the Preakness field to earn a triple-digit Speed rating, and the dark bay colt looks poised to offer a serious challenge for up-and-coming trainer Riley Mott.

Chip Honcho and Iron Honor will try to rebound after disappointing in major Kentucky Derby qualifiers, with Chip Honcho finishing fifth at 2-1 odds in the Louisiana Derby (G2) and Iron Honor seventh as the favorite in the Wood Memorial (G2). Both runners had the points to qualify for the Kentucky Derby but were redirected to the Preakness by their connections, and Chip Honcho and Iron Honor recorded Speed ratings two starts back that put them squarely in the Preakness mix.  

Chip Honcho registered a commendable 97 Speed rating, finishing a half-length second to early Kentucky Derby favorite and now-sidelined Paladin in February’s Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds, and Iron Honor received a 95 number winning the Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct. Both are trained by two-time Preakness winners: Chip Honcho by Steve Assmusen and Iron Honor by Brown.

The remaining Preakness contestants will need to increase their Speed ratings significantly to record an upset win. 

Good luck!

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