Study Guide: 2026 Preakness Stakes

May 13, 2026 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

Taj Mahal (Photo courtesy of The Maryland Jockey

Two weeks after the Kentucky Derby (G1), Laurel Park in Maryland is hosting the second leg of the Triple Crown: Saturday’s $2 million Preakness (G1).

A full field of 14 three-year-olds will battle over 1 3/16 miles to secure first prize in the historic spring classic. Let’s meet the entrants:

Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal (Photo courtesy of The Maryland Jockey

Start(s): 3
Wins: 3
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Bashor Racing, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan
Breeder: Vegso Racing Stable
Trainer: Brittany Russell
Jockey: Sheldon Russell

Top Speed Rating: (101) when winning the Federico Tesio S. at Laurel Park.
Total Earnings: $178,200

Sire: Nyquist
Dam: Oola Gal
Color: Bay

Taj Mahal is unbeaten in three starts and exits with an 8 1/4-length romp in the Federico Tesio S. at Laurel. But early speed is Taj Mahal’s strong suit, and breaking from the rail in a Preakness field absolutely packed with pace could force Taj Mahal to sprint hard early and perhaps get burned up in a speed duel.

Ocelli

Ocelli trains for the Kentucky Derby 2026 (Photo by Horsephotos.com/Rickelle Nelson)

Start(s): 7
Wins: 0
Place: 1
Show: 4

Owner: Ashley Durr, Anthony Tate, and Front Page Equestrian
Breeder: Rosedown Racing Stables
Trainer: D. Whitworth Beckman
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione

Top Speed Rating: (97) when finishing third in the Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $609,800

Sire: Connect
Dam: Zalia
Color: Bay

Ocelli might be winless in seven starts, but he exits a strong third-place finish in the Kentucky Derby (G1). He was beaten by only one length after leading in the final furlong. Ocelli’s stretch-running style should suit this pace-packed Preakness, giving him a chance to secure his first victory.

Crupper

Crupper wins the Bathrow Row Stakes at Oaklawn Park. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 6
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 3

Owner: Robert H. Zoellner
Breeder: Robert H. Zoellner
Trainer: Donnie K. Von Hemel
Jockey: Junior Alvarado

Top Speed Rating: (89) when winning the Bathhouse Row S. at Oaklawn Park.
Total Earnings: $210,665

Sire: Candy Ride
Dam: She’s All In
Color: Bay

Crupper led almost all the way to win last month’s Bathhouse Row S. by 1 1/2 lengths. But the 89 Brisnet Speed rating he received looks a bit light against the Preakness field.

Robusta

Robusta wins at Santa Anita. (Photo by Benoit Photo)

Start(s): 6
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Calumet Farm
Breeder: Calumet Farm
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Jockey: Rafael Bejarano

Top Speed Rating: (97) when finishing second in the San Felipe (G2) at Santa Anita.
Total Earnings: $83,500

Sire: Accelerate
Dam: Urbane Legend
Color: Dark bay/brown

Robusta earned a flashy 97 Brisnet Speed rating when finishing second by a head in the San Felipe (G2) during the winter. But he subsequently ran seventh in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) and 14th in the Kentucky Derby (G1), so he’ll need a rebound to factor in the Preakness.

Talkin

Talkin wins on debut at Saratoga (Photo by Coglianese Photos)

Start(s): 5
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 1

Owner: Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Pine Racing Stables, Legendary Thoroughbreds, Belmar Racing and Breeding, and R. A. Hill Stable
Breeder: Fifth Avenue Bloodstock
Trainer: Danny Gargan
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (92) when winning a maiden special weight at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $288,625

Sire: Good Magic
Dam: Rote
Color: Bay

Talkin has run well against Grade 1 competition, finishing second in the Champagne (G1) and third in the Blue Grass (G1). He’s proven effective rallying from off the pace, so settling behind a fast tempo in the Preakness could yield another top-three finish.

Chip Honcho

Chip Honcho wins at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 6
Wins: 2
Place: 2
Show: 0

Owner: Leland Ackerley Racing, James Sherwood, Jode Shupe, and John Cilia
Breeder: Venneri Racing and Tony Fanticola
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Jose Ortiz

Top Speed Rating: (97) when finishing second in the Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds.
Total Earnings: $280,475

Sire: Connect
Dam: Miss My Rose
Color: Dark bay/brown

Chip Honcho showed talent on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, winning the Gun Runner S. and finishing second in the Risen Star (G2). He skipped the Kentucky Derby to await the Preakness and has the ability to factor on his best day, though he’s struggled with consistency and exits a fifth-place finish in the Louisiana Derby (G2).

The Hell We Did

The Hell We Did is the runner up in the Lexington to winner Trendsetter. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 4
Wins: 2
Place: 2
Show: 0

Owner: Peacock Family Racing Stable
Breeder: Joe R. Peacock Jr.
Trainer: Todd Fincher
Jockey: Luis Saez

Top Speed Rating: (93) when winning an allowance at Sunland Park.
Total Earnings: $134,818

Sire: Authentic
Dam: Rose’s Desert
Color: Bay

The Hell We Did recently ran second in the Lexington (G3), beaten only 2 1/4 lengths. But he tired in the final furlong, and both his wins have come in sprints, so stretching out over 1 3/16 miles in the Preakness is a question mark.

Bull by the Horns

Bull By the Horns wins the Rushaway Stakes at Turfway Park. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 5
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 2

Owner: Peachtree Stable and Mark Corrado
Breeder: Ashview Farm and Colts Neck Stables
Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.
Jockey: Micah Husbands

Top Speed Rating: (85) when winning the Rushaway S. at Turfway Park.
Total Earnings: $187,115

Sire: Essential Quality
Dam: No Sweat
Color: Gray/roan

Bull by the Horns is a late runner who figures to relish the expected fast pace in the Preakness. Last time out, he rallied to win the Rushaway S. over the synthetic Tapeta track at Turfway Park. But a previous seventh-place finish in the Fountain of Youth (G2) on dirt calls into question whether Bull by the Horns can handle graded stakes competition while returning to dirt at Laurel.

Iron Honor

Iron Honor wins the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct. (Photo by Coglianese Photos / Credit to Joe Labozzetta)

Start(s): 3
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: St. Elias Stable, William H. Lawrence, and Cathi Glassman
Breeder: Mike Freeny and Pat Freeny
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Flavien Prat

Top Speed Rating: (99) when winning a maiden special weight at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $229,250

Sire: Nyquist
Dam: Orencia
Color: Bay

Iron Honor won his first two starts, including the Gotham (G3), with sharp Brisnet Speed ratings of 99 and 95. He subsequently finished seventh in the Wood Memorial (G2) after bumping hard with a rival heading into the first turn. Trainer Chad Brown has won the Preakness twice with beaten Wood Memorial runners who skipped the Kentucky Derby, so Iron Honor is following a familiar path and must be considered a strong win contender.

Preakness Stakes 2026 Draw Analysis + Peter Pan Stakes Recap | Racing Roundtable with @NTamm1215, @James_Scully111 & Vance Hanson https://t.co/WyrPuce28T

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) May 12, 2026

Napoleon Solo

Napoleon Solo wins the Champagne Stakes at Aqueduct. (Photo by Coglianese Photo)

Start(s): 4
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Gold Square
Breeder: John D. Gunther and Eurowest Bloodstock
Trainer: Chad Summers
Jockey: Paco Lopez

Top Speed Rating: (98) when winning the Champagne (G1) at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $360,520

Sire: Liam’s Map
Dam: Atomic Blonde
Color: Gray/roan

Napoleon Solo impressed in the Champagne last year, leading all the way through fast-paced fractions to defeat Talkin by 6 1/2 lengths. But he’s finished fifth in both of his starts this year, including the Wood Memorial, and his frontrunning style could be at a disadvantage in this speed-filled Preakness field.

Corona de Oro

Corona De Oro works at Churchill Downs ahead of the Kentucky Derby. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 5
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 2

Owner: On Our Own Stable, Commonwealth Stable, U Racing Stables, Saints or Sinners, Titletown Racing Stables, Jim Nichols, Edwin S. Barker, Daniel Rivers, John Haines, and Dallas Stewart
Breeder: Willow Oaks Stable
Trainer: Dallas Stewart
Jockey: John Velazquez

Top Speed Rating: (91) when winning a maiden special weight at Fair Grounds.
Total Earnings: $92,540

Sire: Bolt d’Oro
Dam: Lemon de Oro
Color: Bay

After failing to gain a spot in the Kentucky Derby starting gate, Corona de Oro has been rerouted to the Preakness. He exits a pacesetting third-place finish in the Lexington and must deal with a bevy of talented pace rivals at Laurel, complicating his path to victory.

Incredibolt

Incredibolt wins the Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 6
Wins: 3
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Pin Oak Stud
Breeder: Deann Baer & Greg Baer DVM
Trainer: Riley Mott
Jockey: Jaime Torres

Top Speed Rating: (100) when winning the Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs.
Total Earnings: $498,681

Sire: Bolt d’Oro
Dam: Sapphire Spitfire
Color: Dark bay/brown

Street Sense (G3) and Virginia Derby winner Incredibolt exits a respectable sixth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby. He’s shown some versatility in terms of running style, but generally closes from off the pace, setting the stage for a favorable trip in the Preakness. Incredibolt is a viable win contender under jockey Jaime Torres, who won the 2024 Preakness aboard Seize the Grey.

Great White

Great White wins the Gary L Wilfert Memorial at Turfway Park. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 4
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Three Chimneys Farm and John Ennis
Breeder: Stud TNT
Trainer: John Ennis
Jockey: Alex Achard

Top Speed Rating: (92) when winning the John Battaglia Memorial S. at Turfway Park.
Total Earnings: $202,495

Sire: Volatile
Dam: Kelly Bag
Color: Gray/roan

A late scratch from the Kentucky Derby, Great White comes off a fifth-place finish in the Blue Grass, which marked his first start on dirt. Both of his wins have come on Tapeta at Turfway Park, so sticking to dirt for the Preakness is a question mark.

Pretty Boy Miah

Pretty Boy Miah captures an Aqueduct allowance (Photo by Coglianese Photography)

Start(s): 4
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Team Penney Racing, Echo Racing, Flower City Racing, Anthony Bruno, and Christopher J. Meyer
Breeder: Thoroughbred by Design
Trainer: Jeremiah Englehart
Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (95) when winning a maiden special weight at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $95,800

Sire: Beau Liam
Dam: Tryingtolookpretty
Color: Dark bay/brown

Pretty Boy Miah has won two starts in a row at Aqueduct, including a $75,000 allowance optional claimer by 3 3/4 lengths. His Brisnet Speed ratings are promising, but Pretty Boy Miah likes to race up front, and making the lead from post 14 could be a difficult task.