Napoleon Solo triumphs in 2026 Preakness

Napoleon Solo, the only prior Grade 1 winner in the field, returned to his best form Saturday with a triumphant score in the $2 million Preakness (G1) at Laurel Park.

Sent off as the 7-1 fourth choice in the field of 14 three-year-olds, Napoleon Solo rated in second behind 9-2 favorite Taj Mahal through the opening six furlongs, took over the lead from that tiring rival approaching the quarter pole, and maintained his advantage to the wire.

With Paco Lopez aboard, Napoleon Solo won by about a length over Iron Honor. Chip Honcho finished third and Ocelli fourth, while Incredibolt rallied from far back to finish fifth.

The order of finish was rounded out by Bull by the Horns, The Hell We Did, Great White, Robusta, Taj Mahal, Corona de Oro, Talkin, Crupper, and Pretty Boy Miah.

Owned by Gold Square LLC and trained by Chad Summers, Napoleon Solo covered 1 3/16 miles over a fast track in 1:58.69. He paid $17.80, $9.80, and $7.40.

Iron Honor returned $9.20 and $6.60, while Chip Honcho paid $8.20 to show. The $1 exotics payoffs: $53.60 (exacta), $597.10 (trifecta), and $2,337.80 (superfecta).

A Kentucky-bred son of Liam's Map, Napoleon Solo was a dominant winner of the Champagne (G1) at Aqueduct last fall, but had finished fifth in both the Fountain of Youth (G2) and Wood Memorial (G2) in his two previous starts this year.