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2026 Preakness at Laurel: Iron Honor Favorite, Surprises Loom

5/16/2026

26 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Iron Honor Favored

The 2026 Preakness Stakes runs Saturday, May 16 at Laurel Park in Laurel, Maryland, with post time about 6:50 p.m. ET.
Chad Brown’s colt Iron Honor opens as the 9-2 favorite from post 9 after a seventh-place Wood Memorial finish, while Golden Tempo is absent.
SportsLine analyst Jody Demling rates 8-1 Napoleon Solo as a surprise contender and flags 15-1 Great White as a possible upset pick.

Summary

Preakness Relocates

The 2026 Preakness Stakes will be run at Laurel Park in Laurel, Maryland on May 16 because Pimlico is under renovation.
About 5,000 fans are expected, reflecting the venue’s smaller capacity.
The race carries a $2 million purse, keeping its Grade I status.
Cherie DeVaux’s Kentucky Derby win with Golden Tempo is the first Derby victory by a female trainer.
The inside rail has produced 12 past Preakness winners, analysts note.

Summary

Brown Eyes Triple

Chad Brown targets a third Preakness win after victories with Cloud Computing (2017) and Early Voting (2022).
Brittany Russell aims to be the first female Preakness trainer since 2019, with husband Sheldon aboard Taj Mahal.
Whit Beckman debuts as a Preakness trainer handling Ocelli, the Derby third-place finisher.
Steve Asmussen enters Chip Honcho, his 18th Preakness starter, though his last win was Rachel Alexandra (2009).

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Iron Honor Favored

The 2026 Preakness Stakes runs Saturday, May 16 at Laurel Park in Laurel, Maryland, with post time about 6:50 p.m. ET.
Chad Brown’s colt Iron Honor opens as the 9-2 favorite from post 9 after a seventh-place Wood Memorial finish, while Golden Tempo is absent.
SportsLine analyst Jody Demling rates 8-1 Napoleon Solo as a surprise contender and flags 15-1 Great White as a possible upset pick.

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