The Preakness Stakes, the second jewel of the Triple Crown, is one of America’s most prestigious Thoroughbred races. This year marks the 151st running, taking place for the first time in its history at Laurel Park in Laurel, Maryland (instead of the traditional Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, which is undergoing major renovations).
The Grade I event is scheduled for Saturday, May 16, 2026, at 1 3/16 miles (9.5 furlongs) on the dirt track for three-year-olds, with a $2 million purse. Post time is expected around 6:50 PM ET, with full-day coverage on NBC and Peacock.
Track Differences
This year will be at Laurel Park, which is an important change to consider in handicapping the race. Laurel is a bigger, wider track (1⅛-mile oval, 95 feet wide) with sweeping, more gradual turns. Pimlico is a tighter, more compact 1-mile oval (70 feet wide) with sharper turns. This makes Laurel feel more like a “galloping” track where horses have more room to maneuver. For the Preakness distance at Laurel (using their first finish line), the homestretch is slightly shorter (1,089 feet) than Pimlico’s (1,152 feet). However, the wider turns often give mid-pack and outside horses a better chance to sustain momentum into the stretch.
Big Takeaway: Pimlico has historically favored tactical speed more due to its tighter configuration. Laurel has a moderate speed bias but its wider layout gives stalkers and sustained closers a slightly better chance to make up ground. The move to Laurel should make the race feel a bit more open and less punishing on horses who get caught wide or a few lengths back early. It still rewards tactical speed, but the bigger track gives closers and wide runners a fairer shot than they’d typically get at Pimlico.
The Field
Pace Projection
Preakness winners are disproportionately forward-running horses (front-runners or tactical stalkers). The race is shorter than the Derby, often has smaller/less chaotic fields, and doesn’t produce as many extreme pace collapses. Speed types win far more often here than deep closers.
This year, a fast, contested early pace is the strong consensus. At least 8–10 of the 14 horses have shown a strong preference for being on or near the lead early (front-runners, pacesetters, or aggressive pressers). With multiple speed types drawn inside and throughout the field (Taj Mahal from the rail, Napoleon Solo, Pretty Boy Miah, Corona de Oro, Robusta, Chip Honcho, Crupper, Iron Honor, etc.), expect honest-to-brisk early fractions. This should set up a classic pace meltdown in the stretch, softening the leaders and favoring horses that can stalk or close effectively off that speed.
The fast early pace should set up best for the closers and strong stalkers who can sit back, conserve energy, and pounce as the leaders tire. Top beneficiaries:
- Ocelli (post 2) — Deep closer who already showed he can rally into fast Derby fractions; perfect setup here.
- Bull by the Horns (post 8) — True closer who rallies from last; a hot pace is ideal for his late kick.
- Incredibolt (post 12) — Stalker who closed from far back in the Derby; will be passing tired horses late.
- Talkin (post 5) — Classic stalker who benefits when the pace up front is legitimate.
Secondary beneficiaries include strong tactical stalkers like The Hell We Did, Iron Honor, and Great White (if he stays off the early duel). Pure early speed types (Taj Mahal, Napoleon Solo, Pretty Boy Miah, etc.) are most at risk of overexerting themselves.
Wagering
Win: #12 Incredibolt (~5-1 or better).
He’s a proven mid-pack/closer who finished strongly in the Derby despite a wide trip. Perfect pace setup, wide post at Laurel for a clean run, and excellent late kick.
Exactas: #12 Incredibolt over #2 Ocelli, #9 Iron Honor, #6 Chip Honcho, #5 Talkin
Other Exactas: Box 12/2, include 8 Bull by the Horns in exacta as longshot
Superfecta: 12-2-9-6