The countdown to the 151st Preakness Stakes is officially on, and this year's "Run for the Black-Eyed Susans" brings a fresh twist to a storied tradition. For the first time in history, the second jewel of the Triple Crown will not be held at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. Instead, all eyes turn to Laurel Park in Laurel, Maryland, as construction reshapes the historic venue. The starting gates swing open at 6:50 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 16, and the field is set for a thrilling showdown.
One major headline: Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo will sit this one out, meaning the quest for a Triple Crown champion remains on hold—no horse has swept all three since Justify in 2018. That leaves the door wide open for a new star to emerge, and the odds board is packed with intrigue.
Leading the pack as the 9-2 favorite is Iron Honor, but he's not running away with the spotlight. A tight cluster of contenders follows at 5-1: Taj Mahal, Chip Honcho, and Incredibolt. Ocelli sits at 6-1, Napoleon Solo at 8-1, and a trio of longshots—The Hell We Did, Great White, and Pretty Boy Miah—each check in at 15-1. It's a wide-open field that promises plenty of betting action.
If you're looking for an edge, horse racing expert Michelle Yu of SportsLine has been on fire. Her 2025 season was nothing short of spectacular: she went all-in on Citizen Bull to win the Robert B. Lewis Stakes, called Forever Young's victory in the Saudi Cup, nailed Journalism in the San Felipe, Sandman in the Arkansas Derby, and Mindframe in the Churchill Downs Stakes. She even hit the exacta in the 2025 Kentucky Derby. More recently, she crushed the Fierceness-Journalism exacta in the Pacific Classic and, just this March, nailed a trifecta in the Arkansas Derby with Renegade, Silent Tactic, and Taptastic.
Now, with post positions locked and odds finalized, Yu has released her 2026 Preakness Stakes predictions—and one pick is turning heads. She's backing Taj Mahal, a 5-1 contender who has never raced anywhere but Laurel Park. And that's exactly why she likes him.
"This undefeated Brittany Russell trainee is certainly a horse for the course, having notched all three lifetime wins over this track," Yu told SportsLine. "He cost more than $500,000 at auction, so expectations have always surrounded him, and so far he has lived up to them. He will get a class test on Saturday, but he deserves the opportunity. He isn't inching out these wins; he's winning going away."
Whether you're a seasoned bettor or just looking for some Derby-prep excitement, the 2026 Preakness Stakes is shaping up to be a race you won't want to miss. For Yu's full betting picks and analysis, head over to SportsLine now—and don't forget to check out the latest DK Horse promo code for a chance to win a share of $151,000.