2026 Preakness Stakes Predictions and Recommended $100 Wager

by Spencer Toth - 5/15/2026

The 2026 Preakness Stakes is just hours away, and a jam-packed field has turned this into a fantastic race. As of now, all 14 horses are still ready to race in the Preakness Stakes, making it the largest field since 2011. The Kentucky Derby winner, Golden Tempo, will not be racing in this event, meaning there will be no Triple Crown winner in 2026. However, a 14-horse field gives us plenty of horses to choose from, and a wide-open field means that each contender has a real shot at bursting through.

There is a trio of horses that stands out as potentially having value based on the current odds list. This race won’t get as many eyes as the Kentucky Derby, but it can be just as profitable. Here are your best bets for the Preakness Stakes with $100 available to wager. You can adjust these totals up or down depending on your bankroll for this race, but by keeping similar payout ratios, you will maximize your chance of leaving Saturday’s race in the green.

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Iron Honor: (9/2)

Iron Honor is the outright favorite to win the Preakness Stakes, but he still has juicy 9/2 (or +450) odds to win the race. Iron Honor did not compete in the Kentucky Derby, as trainer Chad Brown saved his energy for this specific race. Brown has two Triple Crown race wins in the past, and both came when he sat his steed out of the Derby before they stormed to victory in the Preakness Stakes. Those winning horses had 6/1 and 13/1 odds, meaning Iron Honor is the heaviest favorite Brown has brought into this event. On his back sits Flavien Prat, who might be the perfect jockey for this horse. Prat already has a Preakness Stakes win under his belt, and thrives when he gets to ride ‘stalking’ horses. Iron Honor does his best work when he sits just off of the lead before making a late pass, and the 14-horse field should allow him to stay near the front of the pack. The Preakness Stakes is full of late closers and early pace-setters, but lacks other stalking-type horses like Iron Honor. His No.9 post position isn’t the best, but as long as he can stay in the top half of the field around the first turn, this will quickly become his race to lose. In another world, Iron Honor could be a much heavier favorite were it not for his recent stumble. With no Kentucky Derby winner and a lack of other proven contenders, Iron Honor’s 7th place finish at the Wood Memorial has kept this price playable. He got unlucky in that race after being forced to the outside, but he had won back-to-back races before that lackluster result. With Prat on his back, Iron Honor is the top pick to win the 2026 Preakness Stakes.

Percent to win: 30%

Taj Mahal: (5/1)
Taj Mahal has home-track advantage for this one, and all the stars seem to be aligning for a Preakness Stakes win. He is undefeated in three starts at Laurel Park, and a favorable No. 1 post position gives him the upper hand as a pacesetter. The rail draw is often seen as a negative position, as a poor start can see Taj Mahal get quickly lost in the pack, especially with a 14-horse field at Laurel Park. However, this horse and the training team know this track incredibly well, and three straight victories on this exact surface in these exact conditions cannot be ignored. Not only has Taj Mahal been winning these races, but he has done so in dominant fashion. His last victory came by an astonishing 8 1/4 lengths, as his early speed combined with surprisingly consistent stamina has made him a dangerous competitor.

Taj Mahal’s race will be decided in the first two seconds. If he can get out of the gates quickly and avoid the chasing pack, this could turn into a wire-to-wire finish for this pacesetting horse. If not, we will likely see him not only losing his perfect record at Laurel Park, but also slip off the podium entirely. Trainer Brittany Russell is looking to become the first female trainer to win the Preakness Stakes, just two weeks after Cherie DeVaux made history at the Derby, and has already proven she has what it takes to win in this sport. Taj Mahal is the perfect Boom or Bust horse, as he will either win this one comfortably or finish in the back of the pack. Bet accordingly.

Percent to win: 25%

The Hell We Did: (15/1)

We are taking a stab with an underdog here, as The Hell We Did is being overlooked compared to the other primary contenders. Luis Saez is on his back, and he gets a favorable post position of No. 7, and there really aren’t many negatives surrounding this horse. He is one of the other stalker-style horses I expect to thrive in this event, as the Laurel Park racetrack will be very crowded throughout the race. He owns a clean 2-2-0 record across four starts, and has done so against top-tier horses like the ones running at this event. His 95 speed rating is among the top in the field, and he showed signs of growth after his first two-turn event at the Lexington Stakes. His top-end speed, combined with a pedigree that screams strong stamina, is a rare combination to find. Saez is the type of jockey who will be able to toe the line between emptying the tank early and saving energy for later in the race, but he will know he can’t leave The Hell We Did with too much to do down the home stretch. The Hell We Did is an incredibly live underdog in this event, and taking him to Win, Place, and Show has plenty of merit.

Percent to win: 15%

In terms of how we spread our $100 across these horses, there are a few options in front of us. First of all, only take Taj Mahal to win, not to place or show. Keep him as a straight-up pick, or have him as the winner in any exactas or trifectas you make. It can be tempting to automatically make your exotics into boxes, but that is not the way to go with Taj Mahal involved. Additionally, Iron Honor and The Hell We Did are both stalkers, which means if the race goes to plan, both could see themselves near the top, which makes exotics involving both horses appealing. If you have $100 to bet this weekend, this is how I would spread it out.

$35 Taj Mahal to Win

$20 Iron Honor to Win

$20 Iron Honor to Place

$2 The Hell We Did to Win

$5 The Hell We Did to Place

$8 The Hell We Did to Show

$1 Trifecta: Taj Mahal, Iron Honor, The Hell We Did

$1 Trifecta: Taj Mahal, The Hell We Did, Iron Honor

$4 ($8 total) Box Exacta: The Hell We Did and Iron Honor

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Start:	May 15, 2026 @ 8:00 PM
Expert:	Tony George
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2026 Preakness Stakes Predictions and Recommended $100 Wager

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