2026 Preakness Stakes horses, odds, posts, predictions: Expert who nailed last three winners reveals picks

Laurel Park in the DMV normally hosts several grade 2 and 3 stakes races annually, but it gets a G1 race on Saturday, May 16. The 2026 Preakness Stakes will take place at the Maryland racetrack, due to construction at the Preakness' regular home of Pimlico Race Course. What remains the same for the Preakness Stakes 2026 is the distance of 1 3/16 miles, making it the shortest of the Triple Crown races and 1/16 of a mile shorter than the Kentucky Derby. Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo will not run, according to an announcement from trainer Cherie DeVaux on Wednesday. Bet on the Preakness at FanDuel Racing now. Claim your new user bonus here:

The entry list for The Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown has yet to be confirmed, but the early odds have Crude Velocity as the 4-1 favorite. Other potential 2026 Preakness Stakes horse include Iron Honor (19-1), Taj Mahal (20-1) and Silent Tactic (25-1), who was a late Derby scratch. Before making any 2026 Preakness Stakes picks, be sure to see the 2026 Preakness Stakes predictions and best bets from SportsLine's elite horse racing expert Jody Demling.

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 approaching and horse racing futures odds on the board, Demling is sharing his 2026 Preakness Stakes betting picks and 2026 Preakness Stakes predictions over at SportsLine. Go to SportsLine to see them.

Top 2026 Preakness Stakes predictions

One of Demling's surprising 2026 Preakness Stakes picks: Demling is high on Taj Mahal, even though he's a double-digit longshot at 20-1. "The son of Derby winner Nyquist is 3-for-3 with all of his races at Laurel Park," said Demling. Nyquist won the 2016 Kentucky Derby, and Taj Mahal's damsire, Quality Road, was a four-time Grade 1 winner, so Taj Mahal has pedigree on his side. His three Laurel Park wins came on varying track conditions, including both fast and muddy, so he may have a home-track advantage come May 16.

That last victory was at the Federico Tesio on April 18, so he'll have plenty of rest before the Preakness. His trainer, Brittany Russell, is one of the most accomplished in recent Maryland horse racing history, leading all trainers in the state in wins in both 2023 and 2024. Considering Taj Mahal's track history and strong pedigree, he's a longshot worth taking a chance on with Preakness Stakes bets. See which other horses to back at SportsLine. Bet on the Preakness at DK Horse. Sign up for DraftKings Racing here:

How to make 2026 Preakness Stakes picks, bets

Demling is also especially high on an epic double-digit longshot who's well-rested and the perfect fit for the Preakness. Anyone who backs this sleeper pick could hit it big. Demling is sharing which horse it is, along with his entire projected 2026 Preakness Stakes leaderboard, over at SportsLine.

Which horse wins the Preakness Stakes 2026, and which stunning longshot is a must-back? Check out the latest 2026 Preakness Stakes odds below, then visit SportsLine to see Demling's picks for the Preakness Stakes, all from the expert who has nailed the last three winners.

2026 Preakness Stakes odds