2026 Preakness Stakes horses: trainers, jockeys, owners competing in the race

The connections of the Preakness Stakes horses

Jose Ortiz seeks rare Derby/Preakness double with different horses

Golden Tempo’s regular rider, Jose Ortiz, has the chance to achieve a rare Derby/Preakness double in the same year – aboard different horses. Ortiz renews his old acquaintance with Chip Honcho, whom he rode to his maiden victory at Churchill Downs last November.

Calvin Borel is the most recent jockey to turn the unusual double. In 2009, he engineered a 50-1 Kentucky Derby shocker aboard Mine That Bird, but stuck with superstar filly Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness. Rachel Alexandra proved the wisdom of Borel’s decision when she beat Mine That Bird at Pimlico and went on to Horse of the Year honors. Ortiz fans might view it as an auspicious sign that Rachel Alexandra was trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, like Chip Honcho. 

As revealed in the Preakness notes from the Maryland Jockey Club, you have to go back to the late 19th century to find the sole precedent for a Derby/Preakness double with different mounts. In 1898, Hall of Fame jockey Willie Simms steered Plaudit in the Derby and Sly Fox in the Preakness. 

Another jockey milestone is theoretically possible for Hall of Famer John Velazquez. If he can galvanize longshot Corona de Oro to pull a massive upset, the 54-year-old would become the oldest jockey to win the Preakness. Mike Smith was 52 when he piloted Triple Crown champion Justify (2018).

Read other story lines for today's second jewel of the Triple Crown

Trainer and Jockey notes for the Preakness Stakes

#1 TAJ MAHAL (5-1): Trainer: Brittany Russell Unbeaten son of Nyquist ran off to a commanding score in the Federico Tesio S. in his second black-type score last time and rates a big chance with further improvement on Saturday. The $525,000 yearling purchase will be sent from the break by regular pilot Sheldon Russell. 

#2 OCELLI (6-1): Trainer: Whit Beckman The maiden has moved forward in a pair of runs with the hood coming off as of late, and the strong closing type figures to get a nice pace set up in the Preakness under the guidance of Tyler Gaffalione.

#3 CRUPPER (30-1): Trainer: Donnie Von Hemel The Candy Ride colt faces a much better cast in this spot, but he’s moving in the right direction and could surely grab a share with the right trip beneath Junior Alvarado. 

#4 ROBUSTA (30-1): Trainer: Doug O’Neill The Calumet homebred would be a big surprise with Rafael Bejarano taking the reins. 

#5 TALKIN (20-1): Trainer: Danny Gargan The $600,000 bay smoked a bullet four furlongs in advance of the heat and is not without a top-three chance with Irad in the stirrups. 

#6 CHIP HONCHO (5-1): Trainer: Steve Asmussen The Connect colt faced some fine foes in Louisiana this campaign and bypassed the Derby to point for this race. Red-hot pilot Jose Ortiz will take the reins. 

#7 THE HELL WE DID (12-1): Trainer: Todd Fincher Authentic colt was a game runner-up in the Lexington (G3) in his initial route try and has appeal second time going long. Luis Saez retains the mount. 

#8 BULL BY THE HORNS (30-1): Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr. The gray son of Essential Quality will be rallying from off the pace with Micah Husbands in the irons. 

#9 IRON HONOR (9-2): Trainer: Chad Brown The Chad Brown trainee is bred to run all day, and I expect him to take back and make a run from well off the early tempo with Flavien Prat inheriting the mount. 

#10 NAPOLEON SOLO (8-1): Trainer: Chad Summers The Chad Summers pupil dueled through rapid splits in the Wood Memorial in his latest showing and will be formidable in the lane with a more sensible trip in his local debut. Paco Lopez will be in the irons. 

#11 CORONA DE ORO (30-1): Trainer: Dallas Stewart The Bolt d’Oro colt is a question mark going this long, but the sophomore has ability and is not impossible for a top-four placing with John Velazquez on board for the first time. 

#12 INCREDIBOLT (5-1): Trainer: Riley Mott Riley Mott trainee was a respectable sixth in the Kentucky Derby last time with a troubled voyage and can’t be dismissed from off the pace, regular pilot Jaime Torres in the saddle. 

#13 GREAT WHITE (15-1): Trainer: John Ennis The John Battaglia Memorial S. star will track the contested pace from the opening bell with Alex Achard in the silks once again. 

#14 PRETTY BOY MIAH (15-1): Trainer: Jeremiah Englehart The dark bay son of Beau Liam was assigned the widest post in the group, and he’s also a mystery with the added distance of the event, so the gelding would be something of a surprise under Ricardo Santana, Jr. 

$90 Budget bet for the Preakness Stakes

• $5 exacta key box 9 with 1,2,10 ($30)
• $.50-cent trifecta 9,10 with 1,2,9,10 with 1,2,3,5,6,7,9,10,11,12,13,14 ($30)
• $.50-cent superfecta 9 with 1,2,10 with 1,2,6,10,12 with 1,2,5,6,7,10,12 ($30)

Read the full analysis on the 2026 Preakness Stakes post positions here