History has a way of announcing itself before it arrives, and if Brittany Russell makes it to the winner's circle at the Preakness Stakes, the signs will have been there all along.
Unlike Golden Tempo's stunning 23-1 upset that made Cherie DeVaux the first woman to train a Kentucky Derby winner, Russell's contender Taj Mahal enters the Preakness with far more fanfare. The undefeated colt was installed as the co-second choice on the morning line at 5-1 when post positions were drawn Monday at Laurel Park—the temporary home of the Preakness while Pimlico undergoes reconstruction.
Laurel Park, situated between Baltimore and Washington, D.C., has never hosted a Triple Crown race before. But that's not the only history on the line. With Golden Tempo skipping the Preakness—the second straight Derby winner and third in five years to pass on the second leg—only Taj Mahal can complete what fans are calling the "Triple Crown" for women trainers.
Russell is aiming to become just the third woman to train a Triple Crown race winner, following DeVaux's Derby triumph and Jena Antonucci's Belmont Stakes victory three years ago with Arcangelo. "It would sort of feel like probably a fairy tale," Russell said. "It would mean an awful lot."
The son of Nyquist has never raced outside of Laurel Park, going a perfect three-for-three there, including an 8¼-length romp last month in the Federico Tesio. His Beyer Speed Figure of 92 in that race sits just two points behind Ocelli's Kentucky Derby number—a difference of about one length on the track.
Among the full field of 14 starters, only three come from the Derby: Ocelli (third), Incredibolt (sixth), and Robusta (14th). But Taj Mahal's speed figures stack up well. Chip Honcho also boasts a 92 Beyer from his runner-up effort in the Risen Star, but no other Preakness contender has cracked 90 in a route race.
Interestingly, Taj Mahal and the morning-line favorite Iron Honor share more than just a sire in Nyquist. Both colts were sold at the same Keeneland yearling sale in September 2024, with Taj Mahal fetching $525,000—$50,000 more than his rival. Originally trained by Bob Baffert, Taj Mahal has found a new home with Russell, who now carries the hopes of making history in the second jewel of the Triple Crown.
The Preakness Stakes is set to go off just after 4 p.m. PDT on NBC, and if Taj Mahal delivers, Russell will join an elite club of women trainers who have left their mark on the sport's biggest stage.