The 151st Preakness Stakes is set for Saturday, May 16, at Laurel Park in Laurel, Maryland, as renovations at Pimlico Race Course continue. With post time at approximately 6:50 p.m. ET and a limited crowd of just 5,000 fans, this year's "Run for the Black-Eyed Susans" promises an intimate yet thrilling atmosphere.
Iron Honor enters as the 9-2 betting favorite, but the field is stacked with contenders. Taj Mahal, Chip Honcho, and Incredibolt all sit at 5-1, while Ocelli follows closely at 6-1. Notably, 2026 Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo will not compete, leaving the door wide open for a new star to emerge.
For those looking to place smart bets, elite horse racing handicapper Michelle Yu has shared her expert predictions for the race. Yu's track record speaks for itself: she kicked off 2025 by correctly backing Citizen Bull in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes, then nailed wins by Forever Young in the Saudi Cup, Journalism in the San Felipe Stakes, Sandman in the Arkansas Derby, and Mindframe in the Churchill Downs Stakes. She also hit the exacta in the 2025 Kentucky Derby, followed by the Fierceness-Journalism exacta in the Pacific Classic, and most recently, the Renegade-Silent Tactic-Taptastic trifecta in the 2026 Arkansas Derby.
One of Yu's top picks this week is Taj Mahal, who boasts a perfect 3-for-3 record at Laurel Park. While Iron Honor is the favorite and trained by two-time Preakness winner Chad Brown, Yu isn't sold. "The Gotham Stakes winner really faltered when stretching out to nine furlongs in his last start," she notes. "Lightly raced, he might have been hindered by the trip in that effort as well."
Instead, Yu is high on the Brittany Russell-trained colt, who is coming off an impressive 8¼-length victory in the Federico Tesio Stakes. "He isn't inching out the competition—he's dominating," Yu adds, underscoring his potential to surprise at the betting window.
Whether you're a seasoned handicapper or a casual fan, this year's Preakness offers plenty of excitement. With Yu's insights and a competitive field, it's the perfect race to test your luck—and maybe find your next favorite horse to follow.