The first of the three Triple Crown races has come and gone. The Kentucky Derby delivered on the hype, with 30-1 longshot Golden Tempo coming from way behind to steal the win from 4-1 favorite Renegade. Next up on the agenda: The Preakness Stakes.
Now less than two weeks away, the Preakness will run for the 151st time on May 16. In a race first, however, it will take place at Laurel Park near Baltimore, Maryland, as renovations are made to its traditional home at the Pimlico Race Course.
Early odds are out, and the field is coming together. Below, we’ll look at the big picture and highlight a few contenders that stand out from the crowd. Don’t forget to check out the best offshore sportsbooks for deeper betting markets as race day approaches.
2026 Preakness Stakes Odds
The 2026 Preakness Stakes field features a few returning challengers from the Kentucky Derby – including the winner, Golden Tempo – as well as fresh horses not seen at Churchill Downs.
- Crude Velocity (4-1)
- Iron Honor (19-1)
- Taj Mahal (20-1)
- Cherokee Nation (22-1)
- Silent Tactic (25-1)
- Chip Honcho (25-1)
- Napoleon Solo (40-1)
- Talkin (50-1)
- The Hell We Did (50-1)
- Talk To Me Jimmy (50-1)
- Golden Tempo (70-1)
- Great White (90-1)
- Crupper (99-1)
- Express Kid (N/A)
- Pretty Boy Miah (N/A)
The Preakness is limited to 14 starters (compared to the Kentucky Derby’s 20), so there aren’t odds available for the final two horses projected for this field. The smaller field, paired with the track’s shorter distance, makes for a tighter race.
Preakness Stakes Contenders to Watch
Once all the horses have loaded into the starting gate, these select few are likely to be among the favorites and most popular contenders.
Crude Velocity (4-1)
As his name implies, Crude Velocity is a fast horse. He’s only competed in three races, but he’s won each of them, including the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs on May 2. Per Horse Racing Nation (HRN), he’s topped out at a 141 speed figure and enters the Preakness Stakes with the highest recent speed in the field.
Preakness presents a new challenge for Crude Velocity, as he’s never taken part in a race of this distance. The Pat Day Mile was a career-best length at eight furlongs, while the Preakness Stakes is raced at 9.5 furlongs.
Crude Velocity’s odds are dramatically shorter than any of the other contenders, so he’s likely to remain the frontrunner going into race weekend. Time will tell if the odds get any more favorable.
Iron Honor (19-1)
Iron Honor has found success in shorter races, winning at distances of six furlongs and one mile. His most recent start was a disaster, though, as he finished seventh in a 12-horse field at the Wood Memorial Stakes on April 4. He was a 5-2 favorite to win.
There’s no doubt that he has the speed to compete for first place in the Preakness Stakes, but the staying power remains to be seen. Was the Wood Memorial simply a fluke? Or a sign that Iron Honor doesn’t have it? At 19-1, he’s a sizable underdog despite having the second shortest odds.
Taj Mahal (20-1)
Taj Mahal has the profile you like to see heading into a race as big as the Preakness Stakes. He’s won all three of his races despite the distance increasing each time, ranging from six furlongs in his maiden victory to nine at the Federico Tesio Stakes on April 18.
Another positive sign? All three of Taj Mahal’s races took place at Laurel Park, where the Preakness will be held for the first time in 2026. Track familiarity isn’t everything, but it’s a factor going in his favor that shouldn’t be ignored.
Silent Tactic (25-1)
Silent Tactic, who once had 13-1 odds to win the Kentucky Derby, was scratched ahead of race day with a foot injury. Now, attention turns to the Preakness Stakes, where he’s thought to have a good chance to finish in the money – so long as he remains in the field.
It’s unclear if Silent Tactic will take part in the race as he continues to work through an injury. It seems more likely than not that he’ll be healthy, but trainer Mark Casse will want to exercise caution.
Silent Tactic’s race results are supportive of his candidacy as a true contender. He’s won just two of his six races, but he’s never finished lower than second, and he only came behind Kentucky Derby favorite Renegade in his most recent outing at the Arkansas Derby.
Golden Tempo (70-1)
Golden Tempo pulled off a shocking win at the Kentucky Derby, beating out favorites like Renegade (4-1), Chief Wallabee (8-1), and Commandment (6-1) as a 30-1 longshot. It’s unknown if Golden Tempo will run the Preakness, which is part of the reason why the odds are currently set at 70-1.
It feels wrong to count out a horse that just won the Kentucky Derby, but the tight turnaround between the two races makes this an especially tough spot for Golden Tempo. Each of his previous races was spaced roughly one month apart.
Still, if Golden Tempo enters the race, he’ll be an intriguing play as a potential Triple Crown hopeful.
Great White (90-1)
Great White was a late scratch at the Kentucky Derby following a fall on his way over to the starting gate. It was a disappointing end to what could’ve been a historic day for the colt, but now, he’s likely in a better spot to compete for a win in the Preakness Stakes.
Great White is a massive, albeit inconsistent racer. He finished either first or fifth in all four outings, with his most impressive victory coming at the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes in late February.
As an early 90-1 longshot, it’s worth monitoring Great White’s odds as the race draws near.
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Best Early Preakness Stakes Bet
Taj Mahal is my preferred bet at this stage of the process. His recent form is astounding; he’s getting better with each race, and he has plenty of experience running at Laurel Park. At 20-1, he’s likely to see his odds get shorter over the coming days and weeks, so now is the time to lock him in.
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
