Preakness Stakes 2026

 

Laurel Park
RACE 13 – 7:01 PM
Preakness S. (Grade I)
Purse - $2,000,000
Distance - One And 3/16ths  Mile
Surface – Dirt

1 – Taj Mahal
2 – Ocelli                               
3 – Crupper
4 – Robusta
5 – Talkin
6 – Chip Honcho                             
7 – The Hell We Did
8 – Bull by the Horns
9 - Iron Honor
10 - Napoleon Solo
11 - Corona de Oro
12 - Incredibolt
13 - Great White
14 - Pretty Boy Miah

The horse racing "game" is a humbling one. For several years in a row I predicted the Kentucky Derby winners -- and had it not been for Two odd Disqualifications....I was really feeling great about my skills.

Well after the last two Kentucky Derbys (especially the last one) those days are over and I write before you as a man unsure of my footing.

To make matters more fun many of the Kentucky Derby Horses have bowed out of this race AND it's not at Pimilico - but instead at Laurel Park.

Which is likely a big reason why #1 Taj Mahal (along with two other horses) is the 2nd Favorite in this race. Taj Mahal has Three lifetime victories in three races and all of them were here at Laurel Park and all three were with Sheldon Russell aboard. He's got a solid post position - his favorite track and jockey -- the only problem is....he may be facing a better class of horses for the first time. He is the only horse with experience at this racetrack.

 #2 Ocelli finished a charging 3rd in the Kentucky Derby two weeks ago with Tyler Gaffalione aboard. The distance here will be slightly less than the KY Derby - and while Ocelli has certainly raced against the best 3 year olds in the Nation (maybe the world) -- he's also never won a race before. Still a Maiden. He's going off at 6-1 -- which I understand, but can't completely agree with. His odds will likely drop to 5-1 or lower when they open the gates.

#3 Crupper recently won the Bathhouse Row Stakes at Oaklawn Park with Junior Alvarado aboard. He has two victories and two "shows" in 6 races....however those wins and shows were all in the past four races. He's another horse who hasn't run against the highest talent -- but at 30-1 and with recent success could be a long shot to keep an eye on.

 #4 Robusta finished 14th in the Kentucky Derby, 7th in the Santa Anita Derby - and last visited the Winners Circle in January 2026 -- He's an experienced horse with 6 lifetime races - but he's only hit the board twice and he's trying a new rider in Rafael Bejarano. 

#5 Talkin finished 3rd in the Bluegrass Stakes, 5th at the Tampa Bay Derby and is also trying a different rider for the first time with Irad Ortiz, Jr. -- he's shown improvement in his last few races, but his 20-1 odds feels right.

#6 Chip Honcho - The next contestant going off at 5-1 odds. The Chipper has two victories and two places in six lifetime races. Jose Ortiz Jr last rode him on Nov. 2025 - and since then he's had two Jockeys on board. His last race was the Louisiana Derby where he finished 5th. I honestly don't know why the morning odds have him as a second favorite??

I understand that Ponch from Chips
does NOT make Chips Honcho
but somehow....it also does.

#7 The Hell We Did - In four races this horse has either won (2) or placed (2) and is coming in at 15-1 odds. His first three races were 6 furlongs...and his last was 1 mile 1/16th - so this will be a jump in distance for this horse. Hard not to just like this horses name.

Can I get a little cross promotion going here??
C'mon Netflix you've got the cash!

#8 Bull by the Horns - Speaking of great names, In five lifetime races this horse has two wins and two shows. Hasn't competed against a higher level of talent - and he's never run further than 1 1/16th either....so the level up and further distance makes the 30-1 odds make a little more sense.

I mean...now I'm going to have Dodgeball
in my head all day.

#9 Iron Honor - Zero idea what makes this horse the morning line favorite at 9/2 odds. Out of three lifetime races he won the first two at 6 furlongs and 1 mile and then proceeded to finish 7th in the Wood Memorial well behind Ocelli. And yet Ocelli who performed well in the KY Derby against the best talent is at more enticing odds than Iron Honor? He has Flavien Prat aboard who is one of the best Jockeys in the nation - however this will be their FIRST Race together.

#10 Napoleon Solo - is going off at 8-1 odds and finished AHEAD of Iron Honor in the last race (Wood  Memorial) - finishing 5th. My hunch would be that Iron Honor was closing strongly while Napoleon Solo faded in that race......but they both faded in that race. Two victories in Four Lifetime races.

#11 Corona de Oro - In 5 lifetime races he has a win, a place and two shows....so I like that he stays on the board quite a bit. Finished 3rd, immediately behind The Hell We Did in their last race - Lexington Stakes. And he has one of the best Jockeys aboard for the first time with John Velazquez....and he's going off at 30-1.

#12 Incredibolt - Finished 6th in the KY Derby, after an impressive victory in the Virginia Derby. I really like this horse, especially against a weaker field. This horse has a lot of experience Six Lifetime races all with Jaime Torres aboard - and three trips to the Winners Circle. 

Strangely Sensitive Cheetah
wonders how one gets the 
nickname Pretty Boy??
Can he start calling himself
Pretty Boy Cheetah?
Or does it have to be someone
else first??

#13 Great White - Was a DRAMATIC scratch from the Kentucky Derby as this horse reared up as they approached the gate and fell backwards, dumping jockey Alex Achard before being removed from the track. Kudos to Achard who returns to ride Great White and we'll see if he can actually make it to the gate this time. Great White has Two lifetime wins in Four attempts - and Alex Achard has been aboard for all of the runs. Finished 5th in his last outing the Blue Grass Stakes behind Talkin (3rd).

#14 Pretty Boy Miah - In four lifetime races this horse has two wins and 1 place - his last two races were both wins with Ricardo Santana aboard. However this horse has never raced longer than 1 Mile.

As I see the race:

#1 Taj Mahal - has the experience on the track, and a fairly solid post position - although being on the rail isn't always great.

#2 Ocelli - Seems to be the best horse of the bunch - finished well in the Kentucky Derby, obviously can handle the distance -- however has never WON a race and may not have fresh legs after only a two week layoff. 

#9 Iron Honor - I'm a big believer in listening to odds makers....I just don't see what they love about this horse.....granted I didn't see Golden Tempo winning the KY Derby or even contending....so???

#12 Incredibolt - I liked this horse going into the KY Derby - I just didn't love him against that talent...well THAT talent is mostly gone and I like the poise and ability that this horse brings to this race - however like Ocelli is coming off only a two week breather.

I like both #10 Napoleon Solo and #7 The Hell We Did as longshots to do well here - maybe not win but to be apart of your Trifecta / Exacta Bets.

Closing Speed likes: #12 Incredibolt, #1 Taj Mahal, #2 Ocelli

If I'm betting $24 - Tri-fecta box: 1/2/7/12
If I'm betting $12 - Exacta Box: 2/7/10/12