Tipsheet: 2026 Preakness Stakes

A well-matched field of 14 three-year-olds will run 1 3 /16 miles over the Laurel Park dirt surface in Saturday’s historic, $2 million Preakness (G1). 

2026 Preakness Stakes Picks

• #9 Iron Honor
• #10 Napoleon Solo
• #2 Ocelli
• #1 Taj Mahal

2026 Preakness Stakes Wagers

• $30 win and place #9 Iron Honor
• $10 exacta key box 9 with 1,2,10
• $.50-cent trifecta 1.2,9,10 with 1,2,9,10 with all

2026 Preakness Stakes Contenders

#1 TAJ MAHAL (5-1): 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 Brittany Russell pupil is proven over the surface and looked good going nine panels last time, indicating that the added ground will be within his scope, as well. The $525,000 yearling purchase will be sent from the break by regular pilot Sheldon Russell. 

#2 OCELLI (6-1): Whit Beckman trainee was a fine third in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and will be the one to beat with a repeat of that showing. 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): Von Hemel charge was a smart winner of the Bath House Row S. at Oaklawn Park last time out and has never been better in preparation for his graded debut. 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): Accelerate colt has been dusted in a pair of graded runs in succession and needs a quick form reversal in order to impact the race for Doug O’Neill. The Calumet homebred would be a big surprise with Rafael Bejarano taking the reins. 

#5 TALKIN (20-1): Twice Grade-1 placed son of Good Magic will make his third run of the season and could be rounding up to a peak effort for 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): Logical win contender from the Asmussen shedrow finished a huge second in the Risen Star (G2) two back and will be a formidable foe with something resembling that performance. 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): Authentic colt was a game runner-up in the Lexington (G3) in his initial route try and has appeal second time going long. The half-brother to Senor Buscador has room to improve in his third run of the campaign, and he has also posted two morning drills at this venue, as well. Luis Saez retains the mount. 

#8 BULL BY THE HORNS (30-1): Rushaway S. star was dusted in his lone run in the graded ranks in advance of Saturday and has the look of an outsider for Saffie Joseph. The gray son of Essential Quality will be rallying from off the pace with Micah Husbands in the irons. 

#9 IRON HONOR (9-2): Top pick didn’t fire in his route debut in the Wood Memorial (G2) last time out, but the son of Nyquist was excellent in two outings prior to that and will also come in with blinkers off today. 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): Grade 1 winner has blazing early speed and has a chance at a nice price while making his third run of 2026. 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): Dallas Stewart pupil was a clear third in the Lexington (G3) when making his stakes debut most recently and is moving in the right direction as of late. 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): 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. The Virginia Derby victor might be moving best of all in the closing stages of the tilt with regular pilot Jaime Torres in the saddle. 

#13 GREAT WHITE (15-1): Burly son of Volatile tired swiftly in his lone lifetime run on the dirt in the Blue Grass (G1), but the gray has some class to him and has reportedly been working well on the dirt recently for 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): Englehart pupil has powered home to a pair of sharp wins since having blinkers added and will make his two-turn debut on this occasion. 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.