Preakness Stakes Handicapping Picks
Horse racing gamblers are you looking for 2026 Preakness Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping Odds…plus some predictions? Need some advice on who to take? The 2026 (G1) Preakness is set for May 16 at Laurel Park in Laurel, MD. Here’s a preview of our top contenders.
Preakness Stakes Preview
- Race: Preakness Stakes
- Purse: $2 million
- Distance: 1 3/16 miles
- Track: Laurel Park
- Date: May 16, 2026
- Post Time: 7:01 PM ET
- Live: Preakness Stakes Odds: Click Here
Before we can give you our expert 2026 Preakness Stakes free pick, we have to break down the entries! In fact, we’d love to hear from you after you’ve given this post a read to see if you see an angle that we don’t!
Past 10 Preakness Stakes Winners
- 2025 – Journalism
- 2024 – Seize The Grey
- 2023 – National Treasure
- 2022 – Early Voting
- 2021 – Rombauer
- 2020 – Swiss Skydiver
- 2019 – War Of Will
- 2018 – Justify
- 2017 – Cloud Computing
- 2016 – Exaggerator
2026 Preakness Stakes Handicapping
The second leg of the US Triple Crown goes this Saturday with the running of the (G1) Preakness Stakes. With Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo skipping the race to prepare for the (G1) Belmont Stakes in three weeks, there is no Triple Crown bid on the line this year.
However, the Preakness has drawn a full field of 12 three-year-old colts and two geldings. The Preakness is shaping up as an excellent betting race, with no overwhelming favourite and five horses listed between 9-2 and 6-1 in the morning line odds.
For most of its 150-year history the Preakness has been run at Pimlico Race Track in Baltimore. But that track is undergoing renovations, so this year the race will be run a short 20 miles away at Laurel Park.
Odds listed here are provided by the Laurel track oddsmaker.
2026 Preakness Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: Iron Honor Race Odds: 9-2
Iron Honor comes down from Aqueduct in New York where he has run all three of his lifetime races.
He won the first two of those, increasing in distance from six furlongs to one mile in the (G3) Gotham Stakes which he won by a length. Last out in the (G2) Wood Memorial he was part of the early pace, but like all others on the lead in that race he faded in the stretch to finish seventh.
It’s worth noting that twice before trainer Chad Brown has come to the Preakness with lightly raced horses that were beaten in the Wood, but then won the Preakness.
2026 Preakness Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: Incredibolt Race Odds: 5-1
One of three in the race that also ran in the Kentucky Derby, Incredibolt is also one of only three that has a stakes win going around two turns to his name. He did that when winning the Street Sense Stakes at Churchill Downs last fall.
He punched his ticket to the Kentucky Derby with an impressive win in the Virginia Derby in a race that posted a very fast time for 1 1/8 miles. In the Kentucky Derby he was getting into the mix late and was making up ground in the stretch before running our of racetrack.
Taj Mahal Race Odds: 5-1
The hometown hope, Taj Mahal has run all three of his races at Laurel and has won all three, including the Fredrico Tesio Stakes last out, which is considered the local prep for this race.
He’s a speedy front-runner in a race full of speedy front runners, and has drawn the rail post, so it’s almost a given he’ll be gunning for the lead from the gate.
It’s a short stretch at Laurel from the turn to the finish line, and if he’s in front with some daylight as they head for home he could be tough to run down.
He’s trained by Brittany Russell, who would be the first female trainer to win the Preakness, following on the heels of Cherie Deveaux becoming the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby two weeks ago.
Ocelli Race Odds: 6-1
The third place finisher in the Kentucky Derby, Ocelli actually got to the front at Churchill in mid-stretch but couldn’t hold off the onslaught of both Renegade and winner Golden Tempo.
While he has yet to win a race, he’s hit the board in five of seven and has no problem with distance, and good finishing speed numbers. Competition drops off here a bit for him, and that alone could get him in the money once again.
Here’s My 2026 Preakness Stakes Free Pick
There’s quite a bit of speed in this race an that should ensure an honest pace early. Unless Taj Mahal or one other can get loose on the lead, the race sets up for someone coming from off the pace.
At the same time, the track configuration and short stretch could be a problem for anyone trying to come from too far back. I liked Incredibolt as a long shot in the Derby, and I think he ran well enough to give him another chance here as one that can be close enough to the front to get first run as they turn for home.
Arguably half the field had traffic trouble in the Derby, but I think he does have a legitimate claim that had he not had to alter his path in mid-stretch he could have been in the money rather than sixth.
I’ll use him on top, with Taj Mahal in the exacta.
Full Field: 2026 Preakness Stakes Odds
By post position
- #1 – Taj Mahal 5-1
- #2 – Ocelli 6-1
- #3 – Crupper 30-1
- #4 – Robusta 30-1
- #5 – Talkin’ 20-1
- #6 – Chip Honcho 5-1
- #7 – The Hell We Did 15-1
- #8 – Bull By The Horns 30-1
- #9 – Iron Honor 9-2
- #10 – Napoleon Solo 8-1
- #11 – Corona de Oro 30-1
- #12 – Incredibolt 5-1
- #13 – Great White 15-1
- #14 – Pretty Boy Miah 15-1
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