🏇 Preakness Stakes Picks & Predictions 2026: Incredibolt, Taj Mahal Among Our Favorites

Iron Honor is the 9-2 morning-line favorite for Saturday’s 151st Preakness Stakes from Laurel Park in Laurel, Md. But we like three other colts with our Preakness Stakes picks and predictions to beat the favorite, who comes into the Laurel Park starting gate with some baggage.

NBC/Peacock will bring you the second jewel of the Triple Crown starting at 1 p.m. ET. Post time for the Preakness is 6:50 p.m. ET. This marks the first time in event history the Preakness will run outside of Pimlico Race Course, which is undergoing renovations.

🏇 Preakness Stakes expert picks 2026

Here's how our lead handicappers are seeing the top of the board for Saturday's 151st Preakness Stakes. Preakness Stakes odds via FanDuel Racing.

💰 Preakness Stakes picks & predictions 2026

Here are our three best picks and predictions for Saturday's Preakness Stakes.

👑 Incredibolt, 5-1

• Key stat: Finished a solid sixth in the Kentucky Derby (at 23.70-1), only four lengths back of winner Golden Tempo.
• Why he can win: A two-time stakes winner, comfortable around two-turns and a proven closer in a race loaded with front-end speed. Oh, and here’s where we mention he’s the best, most complete horse in the field.
• Best bet: Bet Incredibolt to win and put him atop and in the No. 2 slot on all your vertical exotic tickets.

⭐ Taj Mahal (5-1)

• Key stat: Undefeated at Laurel Park (3:3-0-0).
• Why he can win: This son of 2016 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist may have put up numbers against lesser runners, but he’s displayed the moxie to win by a neck and the dominance to win by 8 1/4 lengths. Four bullet workouts show a colt peaking at the right time–home-field advantage aside.
• Best bet: Get Taj Mahal prime real estate on your tickets: the top, No. 2 and No. 3 slots on your exotics.

⭐ Chip Honcho (5-1)

• Key stat: One of only three horses in the Preakness field to win a two-turn stakes race. The other two? See above.
• Why he can win: Paladin was considered the best 3-year-old in this class – and this son of Connect finished a half-length behind him in the Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds. It bears mentioning that in that strong Derby prep, Chip Honcho beat Derby winner Golden Tempo by 5 1/2 lengths. Yes, he bounced with a miserable fifth (by 11 1/2 lengths) in the Louisiana Derby, but Chip Honcho returns to action rested and refitted with Derby-winning jockey Jose Ortiz. Will be near the lead - without needing the lead.
• Best bet: A win bet isn’t out of line here. He is worth inclusion up and down your tickets.

🎯 Preakness Stakes long shot to watch 2026

History proves that a long shot often finds the board in a 14-horse field. Here is our favorite sleeper value.

🏆 Corona de Oro (30-1)

We’ll start by pointing out Corona de Oro comes into Laurel Park riding a four-race, board-hitting streak (1-1-2). We continue with the fact this is a vault up the class pyramid for a colt whose last finished second in the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes. The housekeeping out of the way, all you need to know about this Bolt d’Oro colt – aside from the fact he was the next-horse-up for a Kentucky Derby spot that didn’t materialize – is who his trainer is.

No, it’s not eight-time Preakness winner Bob Baffert. It’s Dallas Stewart, who has yet to win the second jewel of the Triple Crown. So why are we celebrating him here? Because Stewart has a remarkable knack of getting long shots to find Triple Crown superfectas. There’s 39-1 Preakness runner-up Macho Again in 2008,  50-1 Derby runner-up Golden Soul in 2013, 37-1 Derby runner-up Commanding Curve in 2014, and 28-1 Preakness runner-up Tale of Verve in 2015. Watch Corona de Oro stalk the leaders, then pounce at a price here.

Dive deeper into our Preakness Stakes long shots and sleeper picks. I've got three you need to keep your eye on.

📊 Latest Preakness Stakes odds 2026

Here's a look at the updated Preakness Stakes post position list and odds for this Saturday.

📺 How to watch the Preakness Stakes

• When: Saturday, May 16
• Post time: 6:50 p.m. ET
• Where: Laurel Park, Laurel, Md.
• How to watch: NBC/Peacock

🎟️ How to bet on horse racing

Some other general strategies to consider for your Preakness Stakes picks that apply in general when betting on horse racing include:

• Understanding the basics: Horse racing offers a variety of betting options, but the most common bet is to pick a horse to win, place, or show. A "win" bet means you're betting on a horse to finish first, a "place" bet means you're betting on a horse to finish first or second, and a "show" bet means you're betting on a horse to finish first, second, or third. Additionally, you can bet on multiple horses in different combinations, such as exactas (picking the first and second-place horses in order) or trifectas (picking the first three horses in order).
• Handicapping the race: Before placing your bets, it's important to do some research and analyze the horses, jockeys, trainers, track conditions, and past performances. Look at factors such as recent form, speed figures, class level, and how well the horse has performed on similar track surfaces and distances. You can also consider factors like post position, workout times, and any changes in equipment or jockey.
• Placing your bets: Once you've done your research and identified potential winners, it's time to place your bets. Head to the betting window or use a betting app to place your wagers. Be sure to specify the type of bet you're making (win, place, show, exacta, etc.), the horse's program number, and the amount you want to wager. Double-check your bet slip before confirming to ensure accuracy.