Full Breakdown
2026 Preakness Stakes: A Wide-Open Field at Laurel Park
5/16/2026, 2:10:03 AM
The Core Event
On Saturday, May 16, the 151st Preakness Stakes will be run over 1 ³/16 mi at Laurel Park, Maryland. Fourteen three-year-olds will contest the $2 million purse, with the winner receiving $1.2 million and the Woodlawn Vase. The Kentucky Derby champion, Golden Tempo, will not run, eliminating any chance of a Triple Crown this year.
Background & Relocation
Pimlico Race Course is undergoing a $400 million renovation, prompting a temporary move to Laurel Park—its home since 1909. This marks the first Preakness held outside Pimlico since 1908 and the largest field in fifteen years; the last 14-horse field occurred in 2011. Attendance is projected at under 5,000, far below historic numbers.
Field Overview & Key Contenders
- Iron Honor (9-2) – Chad Brown’s bay colt, the morning-line favorite, will run without blinkers. He won the Gotham Stakes and the Gotham Stakes but finished seventh in the Wood Memorial.
- Taj Mahal (5-1) – Trained by Brittany Russell, ridden by her husband Sheldon Russell, the unbeaten colt is 3-for-3 at Laurel Park, including the Federico Tesio Stakes.
- Chip Honcho (5-1) – Steve Asmussen’s dark bay, ridden by Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Jose Ortiz, bypassed the Derby after a fifth-place finish in the Louisiana Derby.
- Incredibolt (5-1) – Riley Mott’s colt, a former Derby finisher (sixth), will be ridden by Jamie Torres, the 2024 Preakness winner.
- Ocelli (6-1) – Whit Beckman’s colt placed third in the Derby and finished third in the Wood Memorial.
- Napoleon Solo (8-1) – Chad Summers’s colt, a Grade 1 Champagne Stakes winner, is highlighted by several analysts as a potential board finisher.
The remaining entrants include The Hell We Did, Great White, Pretty Boy Miah, Bull by the Horns, and others ranging from 15-1 to 30-1 odds.
Data & Statistics
- Field size: 14 horses (largest since 2011).
- Purse distribution: $1.2 M to the winner; the top five split the remaining $800 K (80 % to owners, 10 % to trainers, 10 % to jockeys).
- Odds spread: Favorite Iron Honor at 9-2; three horses at 5-1; longshots at 15-1 (Great White, Pretty Boy Miah, The Hell We Did) and 30-1 (Crupper, Robusta, Bull by the Horns, Corona de Oro).
- Post positions: Taj Mahal draws the rail (post 1); Chip Honcho draws post 6, historically the most successful gate.
Official Statements & Responses
Trainer Cherie DeVaux announced that Golden Tempo will skip the Preakness to preserve his health and target the Belmont Stakes. Chad Brown confirmed Iron Honor’s preparation, noting the removal of blinkers to improve stamina. Brittany Russell expressed confidence in Taj Mahal’s familiarity with Laurel Park, while jockey Flavien Prat will ride Iron Honor for his fourth Preakness start. Steve Asmussen highlighted Chip Honcho’s rest period after a two-month break.
Criticism & Opposition
Several analysts questioned the field’s depth, noting the absence of any Grade 1 or Grade 2 winners this season. Michelle Yu and Gene Menez both faded Iron Honor, citing his seventh-place Wood Memorial finish and “lightly raced” profile. Concerns were also raised about the relocation’s impact on attendance and the suitability of Laurel’s surface for horses accustomed to Pimlico.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the number of Kentucky Derby holdovers: CBS News lists only Incredibolt as a Derby returnee, while NBC Sports and other outlets cite three—Ocelli, Incredibolt, and Robusta. No source provides definitive post-race results, leaving the ultimate outcome uncertain.
Why It Matters
The 2026 Preakness represents a historic venue shift, a rare opportunity for a female trainer (Brittany Russell) to win a Triple Crown race, and a wide-open betting market after the Derby winner’s withdrawal. The race’s outcome will shape narratives around track relocation, trainer strategies, and the evolving competitiveness of the Triple Crown series.
Verbatim Quotes
- “You know it's funny. I said to myself, the only spot I was hoping not to be was the rail,” — Brittany Russell, trainer
- “Golden gave us the race of a lifetime in the Kentucky Derby, and we believe the best decision for him moving forward is to give him a little more time following such a tremendous effort,” — Cherie DeVaux, trainer
- “He isn't inching out these wins," Yu tells SportsLine, "he's winning going away.” — Michelle Yu, analyst
- “The son of Liam's Map will likely be near the front of the pack; he finished fifth in the Wood Memorial and is not without a shot to hit the board,” — Jody Demling, handicapper
- “really faltered when stretching out to nine furlongs” — Michelle Yu, analyst
