The 2026 Preakness Stakes is nearly here, and the excitement is building for the second jewel of the Triple Crown. Set for Saturday, May 16, at 6:50 p.m. ET, this year's "Run for the Black-Eyed Susans" will take place at Laurel Park in Maryland—and it's shaping up to be a race full of surprises.
One of the biggest storylines? The reigning Kentucky Derby champion, Golden Tempo, will not be on the track. That means there will be no Triple Crown bid this year, leaving the door wide open for a new contender to seize the spotlight. Only three horses from the Derby field—Ocelli, Incredibolt, and Robusta—will return to battle it out once again.
At the top of the betting board, Chad C. Brown's Iron Honor opens as the early 9-2 favorite, but the competition is fierce. Taj Mahal, Incredibolt, and Chip Honcho are all right behind at 5-1, making this one of the most balanced fields we've seen in years. But as the Kentucky Derby reminded us, being the favorite doesn't guarantee victory—and that's where expert insight comes in.
Enter Michelle Yu, a top horse racing analyst who has been on fire. She kicked off 2025 by correctly picking Citizen Bull in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes, then nailed wins in the Saudi Cup (Forever Young), San Felipe Stakes (Journalism), Arkansas Derby (Sandman), and Churchill Downs Stakes (Mindframe). She even hit the exacta in the 2025 Kentucky Derby and followed it up with a perfect Fierceness-Journalism exacta in the Pacific Classic. Most recently, in March 2026, she called the Renegade-Silent Tactic-Taptastic trifecta in the Arkansas Derby.
Now, Yu is turning her attention to the Preakness, and she's making a bold call that could pay off big. One horse she's particularly high on? Taj Mahal. The reason is simple: Taj Mahal is a perfect 3-for-3 in his career at Laurel Park. "He is certainly a horse for the course, having notched all three lifetime wins over this track," Yu explains. Starting from the inside rail—a position that has produced 12 Preakness winners in history—Taj Mahal has the home-track advantage and the momentum to make a serious run.
Whether you're a seasoned bettor or just looking for some Derby Day-style fun, the 2026 Preakness Stakes promises plenty of drama. With a wide-open field, a top favorite sitting out, and expert picks pointing toward a potential upset, this is a race you won't want to miss.