The countdown is on for the 2026 Preakness Stakes, and the excitement is building as the second jewel of the Triple Crown takes center stage at Laurel Park this Saturday, May 16. With a post time of approximately 6:50 p.m. ET, this year's race promises plenty of drama, especially with the absence of Golden Tempo from the field.
Leading the pack as the 9-2 favorite is Iron Honor, a talented colt trained by Chad C. Brown. History is on his side—favorites have won 74 of the last 150 editions of the Preakness. Last year, Journalism broke a six-year drought for favorites, and Iron Honor will look to keep that trend alive. But he won't have it easy. The competition is fierce, with Chip Honcho, Incredibolt, and Taj Mahal all sitting at 5-1 odds. Ocelli follows at 6-1, while Napoleon Solo rounds out the top contenders at 8-1.
For those looking to make informed bets, SportsLine's elite horse racing expert Jody Demling has released his 2026 Preakness Stakes predictions—and his track record speaks for itself. Demling has correctly called 11 of the last 21 Preakness winners, including a stunning performance in 2023 when he nailed the winner, exacta, trifecta, and superfecta. He also hit the trifecta in 2024 and picked Journalism as the 2025 winner. Last year, he even called the top three finishers of the Kentucky Derby in perfect order.
One of Demling's most intriguing picks for 2026 is Napoleon Solo, despite his 8-1 odds and a challenging post position No. 10. The last horse to win from that post was Real Quiet back in 1998. Trained by Chad Summers, Napoleon Solo started his career with two impressive wins, including a victory in the 2025 Champagne Stakes, but has since hit a rough patch with back-to-back fifth-place finishes in the Wood Memorial and Fountain of Youth. Demling sees potential for a rebound in this wide-open field.
If you're ready to place your bets, don't forget to claim the latest DK Horse promo code for a chance to win a share of $151,000 when you wager just $5 on the winning horse. For the full breakdown of Demling's 2026 Preakness Stakes picks and predictions, head over to SportsLine and get the inside edge for race day.