Preakness 2026 Post Positions, Predictions for Each Horse in the Lineup

The 2026 Preakness Stakes carries more unpredictability than most Triple Crown races.

The second leg of the Triple Crown moved away from its traditional home of Pimlico Race Course to Laurel Park due to construction.

A hunt for the Triple Crown will not happen either after Golden Tempo was not entered into the race.

The overall field itself doesn't carry many dominant horses, so there is a chance that an unlikely winner emerges from the 14-horse field.

Preakness Stakes Post Positions

Predictions

There's no perfect horse in the Preakness field.

Iron Honor is the morning line favorite, but he comes into Maryland off a seventh-place finish at the Wood Memorial.

It's just one disappointing finish, but it is concerning because that's the toughest race Iron Honor raced in.

Chip Honcho placed fourth, second and fifth in his three races in 2026 after winning a pair of events to close out 2025.

Taj Mahal has had success as a local horse at Laurel Park, but he also hasn't faced as stiff of competition as the other favorites.

Ocelli, who took third in the Kentucky Derby, doesn't have a win in his career. No horse has won the Preakness without a prior win in his career since 1888.

Incredibolt, who took sixth at the Derby, alternated first and sixth-place finishes over his last four races.

Napoleon Solo took fifth at the Wood Memorial and Fountain of Youth Stakes in his last two starts.

None of those six horses possess convincing resumes, so some people may be inclined just to take a shot on a horse that comes with a larger payout.

Previous Preakness results for jockeys and trainers don't mean much this year with the event away from Pimlico.

You could look for a horse with an in-form jockey. That leads you to Chip Honcho, who has Derby winner Jose Ortiz aboard him.

Ortiz has won each of the three Triple Crown races and multiple events at the Breeders Cup. He could be the steady hand on board Chip Honcho that makes a difference in a field full of inconsistent horses.

Prediction: 1. Chip Honcho, 2. Incredibolt, 3. Taj Mahal