Preakness Stakes 2026: Meet the jockeys and trainers

At Laurel Park, fourteen jockeys and fourteen trainers are partnering to race a full field of fourteen horses in Saturday’s $2 million Preakness (G1).

Much has been written about the horses participating in the historic 151st running of the Triple Crown’s second leg. Now let’s meet their jockeys and trainers:

2026 Preakness Jockeys

Skim through the equine pilots aboard the Preakness Stakes contenders.

Sheldon Russell (Taj Mahal)

The unbeaten #1 Taj Mahal (5-1) ran his foes off of their respective feet in a Federico Tesio S. tour-de-force and is three-for-three on the course for trainer Brittany Russell. By Nyquist, the $525,000 yearling purchase has improved his Brisnet Speed rating with each career run to date, and he will bring considerable pace from the rail, as well. If the colt can avoid an early duel, then he has to be given a winning chance with regular pilot Sheldon Russell on board.

Tyler Gaffalione (Ocelli)

#2 Ocelli (6-1) is still a maiden, but his excellent third in the Kentucky Derby showed how talented he is. Trained by Whit Beckman, the Connect colt is proven at the trip and also landed in a field where the pace will be swift and potentially contested, which will aid his closing burst. He has improved since having the blinkers removed two back and has to be on a lot of tickets with Tyler Gaffalione in the silks once again. 

Junior Alvarado (Crupper)

Rafael Bejarano (Robusta)

#4 Robusta (30-1) didn’t show expected early speed in the Kentucky Derby and never made an impact, finishing 14th. His best performances have come when racing in the clear on or very close to the lead, and the dark bay colt figures to be pushing it on the two-week turnaround.

Irad Ortiz, Jr. (Talkin)

#5 Talkin (20-1) has raced close to the pace without success in a pair of stakes attempts this year; look for him to make one run Saturday.

Jose Ortiz (Chip Honcho)

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.

Luis Saez (The Hell We Did)

#7 The Hell We Did (15-1) pushed the pace in the Lexington but employed up-close stalking tactics, recording his lone two wins.

Micah Husbands (Bull by the Horns)

#8 Bull by the Horns (30-1) closed from last-to-first, recording his first stakes victory last out, the Rushaway S. at Turfway Park.

Flavien Prat (Iron Honor)

James Scully tabbed #9 Iron Honor (9-2) as the Preakness (G1) winner following his maiden win, and while his recent effort in the Wood Memorial (G2) left much to be desired, I have to stick to my guns with the son of Nyquist. Trained by Chad Brown, the $475,000 Keeneland purchase was game in both of his two wins to kick off his career when going one turn, and the colt was close to rapid fractions before failing to fire late in the Wood. The blinkers have come off following that subpar showing, and I’m expecting a big move forward on Saturday with Flavien Prat picking up the mount. 

Joel Rosario (Napoleon Solo)

The 2025 Champagne (G1) hero #10 Napoleon Solo (8-1) will be making the third run of his sophomore season and will peak at Laurel. The Chad Summers pupil has substantial early speed, and I love his outer post draw, with much of the additional pace in the field drawn to his inside. The Liam’s Map colt has reportedly been working well in advance of his local bow, and I envision him forcing the action and leading turning for home with Paco Lopez on board. 

John Velazquez (Corona de Oro)

Jaime Torres (Incredibolt)

Alex Achard (Great White)

#13 Great White (15-1) dueled for the early lead in the Blue Grass (G1), and after missing the Kentucky Derby due to flipping at the gate, the massive gray gelding may be keyed up early in the Preakness.

Ricardo Santana (Pretty Boy Miah)

#14 Pretty Boy Miah (15-1) has done his best running in the last two starts, establishing blistering fractions winning at 6 1/2 furlongs two back, and promises to be forward in his first two-turn start.

2026 Preakness Trainers

Who trains the Preakness Stakes horses?

Brittany Russell (Taj Mahal)

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.

Whit Beckman (Ocelli)

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.

Donnie Von Hemel (Crupper)

#3 Crupper (30-1) earned a free Preakness berth, recording a frontrunning victory in a “Win & You’re In” race at Oaklawn. He doesn’t appear quick enough to challenge for the early lead but may try to establish positioning close to the front.

Doug O'Neill (Robusta)

Danny Gargan (Talkin)

Steve Asmussen (Chip Honcho)

#6 Chip Honcho (5-1) set the pace before grudgingly giving way to finish a close second in the Risen Star (G2) two back. He faltered at 2-1 when switching to rating tactics in the Louisiana Derby (G2), with his three best career efforts coming when racing on or very close to the lead.

Todd Fincher (The Hell We Did)

Saffie Joseph, Jr. (Bull by the Horns)

Chad Brown (Iron Honor)

#9 Iron Honor (9-2) removes blinkers, and despite racing prominently in his first two wins, the colt appears likely to switch to stalking tactics following a troubled seventh in the Wood Memorial (G2).

Chad Summers (Napoleon Solo)

#10 Napoleon Solo (8-1) figures to be applying serious pressure from the outside, registering enormous Early Pace numbers leading all the way in the Champagne (G1) last fall. He’s been training forwardly for Chad Summers.

Dallas Stewart (Corona de Oro)

#11 Corona de Oro (30-1) set the pace before weakening to third in the Lexington (G3); his form improved when he began to show high speed from the starting gate two starts back.

Riley Mott (Incredibolt)

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.

John Ennis (Great White)

Jeremiah Englehart (Pretty Boy Miah)