The 2026 Preakness Stakes, marking the 151st running of the race, will be held at Laurel Park in Maryland for the first time due to construction at Pimlico Race Course. The $2 million race, the shortest of the Triple Crown events at 1 3/16 miles, features a full field of 14 three-year-olds, the largest since 2011. Notably absent is Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo, leaving the race wide open with Iron Honor as the 9-2 morning-line favorite, followed closely by Taj Mahal, Chip Honcho, and Incredibolt at 5-1 odds.
Horse racing expert Jody Demling, known for his accurate past Preakness predictions, offers his insights and betting picks for the race. While Taj Mahal is a favorite due to his perfect record at Laurel Park, Demling ranks him outside the top five because of his limited competition experience. Iron Honor, trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Flavien Prat, is a strong contender despite a recent troubled race. Incredibolt, coming off a sixth-place Kentucky Derby finish, also draws attention. Demling highlights a surprising longshot with potential to win, encouraging bettors to check his full predictions and leaderboard on SportsLine for the best betting strategies.
