Updated: May 5, 2026 | Race Date: May 16, 2026 | Venue: Laurel Park, Maryland | Purse: $2,000,000
The 2026 Preakness Stakes is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing editions of the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown in years — and that’s before we even know if the Kentucky Derby winner is showing up. Trainer Cherie DeVaux shipped Golden Tempo back to her home base of Keeneland and said the Preakness “is on the table,” but that upcoming training will be what ultimately determines whether the colt makes an attempt to become racing’s 14th Triple Crown winner.
While the sport holds its breath waiting on that decision, the 2026 Preakness Stakes contenders list is filling up fast — and several horses who bypassed Churchill Downs have been pointing squarely at Laurel Park all spring. Here is everything you need to know about who is running, who is skipping, and who has the best shot at glory on May 16.
🏟️ A Historic Venue Change for 2026
Before diving into the horses, the setting matters. The 2026 Preakness Stakes has been shifted about 30 miles southwest from Pimlico Race Course to Laurel Park as the Baltimore facility undergoes a complete rebuild following the 150th anniversary milestone. This is a massive deal from a handicapping standpoint — the new track surface, tighter turns, and unfamiliar surroundings will reward horses who have raced at Laurel before.
The 2026 Preakness Stakes runs Saturday, May 16 at Laurel Park with post time at 6:45 PM ET on NBC. Post positions are drawn Monday, May 11.
🐎 The 2026 Preakness Stakes Contenders
1. Golden Tempo — Kentucky Derby Winner | Status: Under Consideration
The headline act. Golden Tempo won the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 2 at Churchill Downs under trainer Cherie DeVaux, who made history as the first female trainer to win America’s greatest race. Golden Tempo currently has 70-to-1 odds of winning the Preakness 2026 — a reflection of the uncertainty around whether the horse will actually run.
Should he line up and win, he would become only the 14th Triple Crown champion in history. DeVaux’s message: “He needs to be healthy, be sound, be happy.” Watch his Keeneland workouts this week for the clearest signal.
Trainer: Cherie DeVaux | Sire: Bodexpress | Owners: Phipps Stable & St. Elias Stables
2. Crude Velocity — Unbeaten Derby Bypasser | Status: Very Likely
The most dangerous horse in the field if Golden Tempo skips. Crude Velocity will very likely be among the leading choices for the Preakness after extending his unbeaten record to three following a dominant score in the Pat Day Mile Stakes presented by SAP on the Derby undercard. Owner Bill Childs of CSLR Racing Partners told the Thoroughbred Daily News they would next target the Preakness.
Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert — who owns a record eight Preakness victories — Crude Velocity is fresh, unbeaten, and primed for a peak performance at 1 3/16 miles.
Trainer: Bob Baffert | Sire: Gun Runner | Record: 3-for-3
3. Taj Mahal — Unbeaten Local Hero | Status: Confirmed
The horse that knows this track better than anyone. Taj Mahal owns a perfect 3-0-0 record, all at Laurel and two of them in stakes, including the 1 1/8-mile Federico Tesio on April 18 that earned the Brittany Russell-trained colt an automatic Preakness berth.
Taj Mahal is an undefeated front-runner who has run all three career starts at Laurel Park. In a smaller field without Churchill Downs’ 18-horse chaos, he sets the pace, controls it, and dares the field to come get him. Home track advantage is a very real factor in 2026.
Trainer: Brittany Russell | Record: 3-for-3
4. Iron Honor — Chad Brown’s Blueprint Runner | Status: Confirmed
Do not sleep on trainer patterns. Iron Honor fits Chad Brown’s exact Preakness blueprint — both his previous winners (Cloud Computing 2017, Early Voting 2022) came out of the Wood Memorial on April 4 with a six-week rest as their fourth career starts. Iron Honor mirrors that exact setup. Brown confirmed: “He’s going to go to the Preakness.”
Trainer: Chad Brown | Last Race: Gotham Stakes (G3) Winner
5. Chip Honcho — Deliberate Preakness Pointer | Status: Confirmed
Chip Honcho, winner of the Gun Runner Stakes and a close second in the Risen Star (G2), will bypass the Kentucky Derby in favor of the May 16 Preakness Stakes, Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen confirmed. Asmussen said the Middle Jewel was just a better fit after Chip Honcho finished fifth in the Louisiana Derby at the Preakness distance of 1 3/16 miles. He worked a bullet five furlongs in 1:00 on May 2 — a strong signal connections like what they see
Trainer: Steve Asmussen | Last Race: Gun Runner Stakes Winner
6. Napoleon Solo — Speed Factor | Status: Expected
Champagne Stakes winner Napoleon Solo is expected to ship to Laurel around May 10. Trainer Chad Summers said he expects to breeze the horse one more time in New York this weekend before shipping. The Liam’s Map colt carries significant early speed and will be interesting in the pace equation alongside Taj Mahal.
Trainer: Chad Summers | Sire: Liam’s Map
7. Great White — Gate Scratch Survivor | Status: Likely
Great White reared and fell at the Churchill Downs gate on May 2 before the Kentucky Derby field loaded and was scratched as a precaution. Connections confirmed he emerged without serious injury. Trainer John Ennis confirmed Great White will be pointed toward the Preakness at Laurel Park on May 16 if his Saturday half-mile breeze comes back clean.
Trainer: John Ennis | Jockey: Alex Achard
8. The Hell We Did & Other Possibles
The Hell We Did has raced at four different racetracks in as many starts and most recently finished second in the April 11 Lexington (G3) at Keeneland — his two-turn debut. Trained by Todd Fincher, he shipped from Kentucky to Maryland. Other possible Preakness starters include Cherokee Nation, Crupper, Express Kid, Ottinho, Pretty Boy Miah, Silent Tactic, Talkin and Talk to Me Jimmy.
📺 Watch: 2026 Preakness Stakes Preview
🐦 What People Are Saying on X (Twitter)
Thinking only KY Derby winner Golden Tempo is considering the Preakness. A decision on his status unlikely til he returns to track. New names for Preakness include Chip Honcho, Cherokee Nation, Crupper, Iron Honor, Napoleon Solo, Silent Tactic, The Hell We Did, Talkin, Taj Mahal
— David Grening (@DRFGrening) May 3, 2026
“He was the horse of a lifetime,” said co-owner Mike Pegram. Real Quiet won the 1998 @KentuckyDerby and @PreaknessStakes and came oh so close to at Triple Crown in the @TheNYRA Belmont Stakes. Look back on his amazing career: https://t.co/hwHZ5jkt6s
— America’sBestRacing (@ABRLive) May 5, 2026
(To embed: paste the tweet URLs into your CMS Twitter/X embed block)
📊 2026 Preakness Stakes Quick Facts
Detail Info Race 151st Preakness Stakes (G1) Date Saturday, May 16, 2026 Venue Laurel Park, Laurel, Maryland Post Time 6:45–6:50 PM ET TV NBC / Peacock Distance 1 3/16 Miles (Dirt) Purse $2,000,000 Max Field 14 Starters Post Draw Monday, May 11
🔗 Outbound Resources
- 📰 Full possibles list & updates → Horse Racing Nation
- 💰 Live Preakness 2026 odds → Off Track Betting
- 🏁 Beginner’s guide to Laurel Park → America’s Best Racing
- 📊 Pace analysis & picks → Horse Racing Sense
- 🎥 Video preview → Racing Dudes
FAQ — 2026 Preakness Stakes Contenders
Q: Who are the top 2026 Preakness Stakes contenders? As of May 5, 2026, the leading contenders are Crude Velocity (unbeaten, Bob Baffert), Taj Mahal (unbeaten, Laurel Park specialist), Iron Honor (Chad Brown), Chip Honcho (Steve Asmussen), and potentially Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo if trainer Cherie DeVaux confirms his participation.
Q: Is Golden Tempo running in the 2026 Preakness Stakes? Golden Tempo’s participation has not been confirmed as of May 5, 2026. Trainer Cherie DeVaux says the decision depends on how the colt trains at Keeneland in the two weeks following his Kentucky Derby win on May 2. A decision is expected before the May 11 post draw.
Q: Where is the 2026 Preakness Stakes being held? For the first time in its 151-year history, the Preakness Stakes is being held at Laurel Park in Laurel, Maryland — approximately 30 miles southwest of its traditional home at Pimlico Race Course, which is undergoing a complete reconstruction.
Q: When is the 2026 Preakness Stakes? The 2026 Preakness Stakes takes place on Saturday, May 16, 2026, with a post time of approximately 6:45–6:50 PM ET. It will air on NBC and Peacock.
Q: Who is the favorite for the 2026 Preakness Stakes? Early oddsmaking points to Crude Velocity and Taj Mahal as favorites among the confirmed runners. If Golden Tempo enters, he would likely be a co-favorite given his Kentucky Derby credentials.
Q: Could there be a Triple Crown winner in 2026? Yes — if Golden Tempo wins the Preakness Stakes on May 16 and then the Belmont Stakes on June 6, he would become racing’s 14th Triple Crown winner, only the second since Justify in 2018.
Q: How many horses run in the Preakness Stakes? The Preakness Stakes field is capped at 14 starters. With 16 horses on the possibles list as of May 5, 2026, some horses may be balloted out based on Triple Crown points and career earnings.
Q: What is the prize money for the 2026 Preakness Stakes? The 2026 Preakness Stakes carries a total purse of $2,000,000. The winning connections receive over $1,000,000.
Article last updated: May 5, 2026. Information will be updated following the May 11 post draw and official entry confirmation.