It’s going to be a different vibe at the 2026 Preakness Stakes. With Pimlico Race Track underdoing $400 million in renovations, the second race of the prestigious Triple Crown heads just south to Laurel Park for one summer. Laurel Park is expected to have a crowd of around 5,000 — roughly 20 times less than the typical Preakness weekend at Pimlico.
Still, the race is shaping up to be a good one. The morning-line 2026 Preakness Stakes odds have five horses challenging for the favorite status heading into Saturday, led right now by Gotham Stakes winner Iron Honor at 9-2 odds. Incredibolt, Chip Honcho and Taj Mahal are all 5-1, and Ocelli sits 6-1. With so much to consider while making your 2026 Preakness Stakes picks, a little expert help can go a long way.
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Post position matters for every race, but different depending on the size and talent of the field, and the horses themselves. Some like to jump out front right away, others prefer to stalk, some are closers, like Golden Tempo at the Kentucky Derby. The Preakness Stakes is no exception.
Over the last 15 years, the No. 5 spot has produced four wins, the most of any spot. That includes two of the last four champions. That’s good news for Talkin, a 20-1 longshot who will get a rider upgrade here with Irad Ortiz in the saddle. Post 1 has three wins and Post 2 was where Journalism came from in a dominant 2025 win. That’s good news for 5-1 contender Taj Mahal (No. 1) and 6-1 Ocelli (No. 2).
Given all the history of the race, there’s a method to picking which horses to focus on for exacta, trifecta and superfecta bets in a Preakness Stakes like this, and SportsLine expert Jody Demling knows what it is. He can help you make the best 2026 Preakness Stakes picks possible.
A fixture in the horse racing world who has been writing about, talking about and betting on races for years, Demling hit the top three finishers in the 2025 Kentucky Derby in the correct order. He also called 11 of the last 21 Preakness winners, including 2023, when he hit the winner, exacta, trifecta and superfecta. He hit the trifecta in the 2024 Preakness Stakes and nailed Journalism as the 2025 Preakness winner. Anyone who has followed him on horse racing betting sites could be way up.
Now, with the 2026 Preakness Stakes post positions set and odds on the board, Demling is sharing his picks and 2026 Preakness Stakes betting predictions over at SportsLine. Go here to see them.
Top 2026 Preakness Stakes expert picks
Here’s a refresher on these types of bets from SportsLine’s Jody Demling:
Preakness Stakes Exacta: Pick the first- and second-place finishers in the correct order. A $2 exacta returned $33.80 at the 2025 Preakness Stakes with Journalism and Gosger.
Preakness Stakes Trifecta: Pick the first-, second- and third-place finishers in the correct order. A $1 trifecta returned $73.50 at the 2025 Preakness Stakes with Journalism, Gosger and Sandman.
Preakness Stakes Superfecta: Pick the first-, second-, third- and fourth-place finishers in the correct order. A $1 superfecta returned a colossal $303.40 at the 2025 Preakness Stakes with Journalism, Gosger, Sandman and Goal Oriented.
While Iron Honor is the 9-2 favorite, Demling is high on Napoleon Solo (8-1), despite the colt not being among the top five favorites in the 2026 Preakness Stakes. “The son of Liam’s Map will likely be near the front of the pack; he finished fifth in the Wood Memorial and is not without a shot to hit the board,” Demling told SportsLine. He is also building his tickets around an epic double-digit longshot “with a chance” to win it all”, spicing up his 2026 Preakness Stakes exotics. You can see his picks here.
Bet the Preakness Stakes at 1/ST BET, where you can get up to $500 in wagering credits ($20 per $100 wagered):
How to make 2026 Preakness Stakes bets
Demling has specific recommendations for exacta, trifecta and superfecta wagers so you can cover all your bases at the Preakness Stakes 2026. He’s sharing them over at SportsLine.
So which horses do you take, and in what combinations? Visit SportsLine to get Demling’s picks for exacta, trifecta and superfecta bets for the 2026 Preakness Stakes.
2026 Preakness Stakes odds, futures, horses, post positions
| 1 |
Taj Mahal |
5-1 |
SEE PICKS |
| 2 |
Ocelli |
6-1 |
SEE PICKS |
| 3 |
Crupper |
30-1 |
SEE PICKS |
| 4 |
Robusta |
30-1 |
SEE PICKS |
| 5 |
Talkin |
20-1 |
SEE PICKS |
| 6 |
Chip Honcho |
5-1 |
SEE PICKS |
| 7 |
The Hell We Did |
15-1 |
SEE PICKS |
| 8 |
Bull By The Horns |
30-1 |
SEE PICKS |
| 9 |
Iron Honor |
9-2 |
SEE PICKS |
| 10 |
Napoleon Solo |
8-1 |
SEE PICKS |
| 11 |
Corono De Oro |
30-1 |
SEE PICKS |
| 12 |
Incredibolt |
5-1 |
SEE PICKS |
| 13 |
Great White |
15-1 |
SEE PICKS |
| 14 |
Pretty Boy Miah |
15-1 |
SEE PICKS |
