2026 Preakness Stakes predictions, odds, field, location, post time: Picks from proven horse racing expert

With no chance for a Triple Crown winner this year, the 2026 Preakness Stakes features a wide-open field with six horses having odds of 8-1 or lower. Saturday's post time from Laurel Park is set for about 6:50 p.m. ET. For the second year in a row, the Kentucky Derby winner is skipping the Preakness in preparation for next month's Belmont Stakes. Golden Tempo won this year's Kentucky Derby, but won't get a chance at becoming the first Triple Crown winner since Justify in 2018.

The forecast is for temperatures nearing 80 degrees with just a slight chance of rain. Iron Honor (9-2) is the favorite for the 14-horse field. He is followed by Chip Honcho (5-1), Incredibolt (5-1), Taj Mahal (5-1), Ocelli (6-1) and Napoleon Solo (8-1). 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 Gene Menez.

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A former reporter and editor at Sports Illustrated, Menez covered an array of sports, including horse racing, for the magazine and its website for almost 14 years. Between 2010 and 2012, he served as SI's handicapper for the Triple Crown races and correctly predicted Super Saver to win the Kentucky Derby in 2010.

In 2015, while writing for Sports on Earth, Menez accurately gave out the Kentucky Derby superfecta (American Pharoah, Firing Line, Dortmund and Frosted), which paid $1,268.20 for $2. Then in 2017, he tweeted out his Kentucky Derby picks, including Always Dreaming to win, and hit the Pick 4, which paid almost $6,900 on a $1 bet. In 2024, Menez gave out 18-1 Mystik Dan as a live longshot in the Kentucky Derby. In last year's Kentucky Derby, he hammered the exacta and trifecta for a $1,045 payout. Anyone who has followed his horse racing betting advice could be way up.

Now, Menez has handicapped the 2026 Preakness Stakes field and revealed his picks. Go here to see them. 

Top 2026 Preakness Stakes predictions

One of Menez's surprising 2026 Preakness Stakes picks: Menez is fading Iron Honor, the 9-2 favorite. Iron Honor opened his career strong. In December, he won the MSW race at Aqueduct with a strong time of 1:11.23. He followed that up with a victory at the 2026 Gotham Stakes in February.

Red flags have emerged after his last start, however. After a strong start, he faded down the stretch and finished seventh at the 2026 Wood Memorial on April 4. Although he has over 2,800 career wins, trainer Chad Brown, 47, has just two Preakness victories - 2017 and 2022. See who to back at SportsLine.

Another stunner: Menez is high on The Hell We Did, a longshot at 15-1. He's finished first or second in all four career races. He had not gone longer than six furlongs until the Lexington Stakes on April 11. However, he handled that 1 1/16-mile run well, finishing second ahead of fellow Preakness entry Corona de Oro. The Hell We Did drew post no. 7, which has the second-highest winning percentage of all time in the Preakness Stakes, and has produced three winners since 2000.

"He will be making his third start off the layoff, which is normally a horse's best," Menez said. "He has been training at Laurel for two weeks and has impressed trackside observers with how he has looked in the mornings. One even called him a 'monster.'" See which other horses to back at SportsLine.

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How to make 2026 Preakness Stakes picks, bets

Menez's top pick is a horse who was "brilliantly fast." He also is high on a double-digit longshot who is "finally fit." Menez 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 longshot is a must-back? Check out the latest 2026 Preakness Stakes odds below, then visit SportsLine to see Menez's picks for the Preakness Stakes, all from the expert who had a $1,045 payout at last year's race.

2026 Preakness Stakes odds