2026 Preakness Stakes horses, odds, predictions, time: Expert who hit 11 winners reveals horse racing picks

The 151st running of the Preakness Stakes will be one like never before. That's because the 2026 race will be run at Laurel Park in Laurel, Md. Past races have been run at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, which is about 30 miles southwest. Pimlico, however, is undergoing a $400 renovation, which is expected to be open in time for next year's Preakness.

The only other time the Preakness was not held at Pimlico was in 1890 at Morris Park in New York and from 1894 to 1908 at Gravesend Race Track in New York. Iron Honor is the morning line favorite at 9-2 in the 2026 Preakness Stakes odds. Other favorites include Chip Honcho, Incredibolt and Taj Mahal at 5-1. 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. 

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Now, with the 2026 Preakness Stakes field set, 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 Napoleon Solo (8-1). Despite having the sixth-best odds to win and running from post No. 10, Demling likes what he sees from the Chad Summers-trained colt in a wide open Preakness field. The last horse to leave from post No. 10 and win the Preakness was Real Quiet in 1998.

Napoleon Solo, who won his first two races, is coming off back-to-back fifth-place finishes. On April 4, he took fifth at the dirt-fast 2026 Wood Memorial. He was also fifth at the 2026 Fountain of Youth this past February. His wins were at the MSW race at Saratoga in August, and at the 1-mile 2025 Champagne G1 at Aqueduct Racetrack in October. See which other horses to back at SportsLine. 

Another surprise: Despite Chip Honcho having a favorable post at No. 6, which has produced 17 winners through the years, Demling sees value elsewhere. Chip Honcho has not been trending well of late. After starting his career with two wins in his first three races, he dipped to fourth at the 2025 Gun Runner in December.

He did bounce back a bit in February, taking second at the 2026 Risen Star at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans. He slipped to fifth at the 2026 Louisiana Derby in March. He has not competed since. Trainer Steve Asmussen, 60, who has two Preakness Stakes wins in his career, has not won a Preakness race since 2009. See which other horses to fade at SportsLine. 

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How to make 2026 Preakness Stakes picks, bets

Demling is also especially high on an epic double-digit longshot "with a chance" to win it all. 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