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2026 Preakness Stakes horses, odds, predictions, post draw: Expert who called 11 winners reveals picks
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2026 Preakness Stakes horses, odds, predictions, post draw: Expert who called 11 winners releases picks
TL;DR
Iron Honor is the morning-line favorite at 9-2 for the 2026 Preakness Stakes, but his chances are uncertain after a disappointing finish in the Wood Memorial. Three horses are closely behind at 5-1 odds: Taj Mahal, Chip Honcho, and Incredibolt.
Key points
- Iron Honor is the morning-line favorite at 9-2.
- Taj Mahal, Chip Honcho, and Incredibolt are each at 5-1 odds.
- Jody Demling has a strong track record in predicting race outcomes.
- Iron Honor's last race raised questions about his performance.
- Demling called the winner of the 2025 Preakness Stakes.
Mentioned in this story
Jody Demling
Iron HonorTaj MahalChip HonchoIncredibolt
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Iron Honor enters the 2026 Preakness Stakes as the morning-line favorite at 9-2, but his path to the winner's circle at Laurel Park is far from guaranteed. The Chad Brown-trained Nyquist colt broke his maiden at Aqueduct last December and followed it with a clean victory in the Gotham Stakes, looking every bit like a future Triple Crown contender. His last start, however, raised questions: sent off as the favorite in the Wood Memorial, he drew the far outside post, was compromised throughout, and finished seventh.
Despite Iron Honor's status as the slight favorite, three horses share the next tier of 2026 Preakness Stakes odds at 5-1: Taj Mahal, Chip Honcho and Incredibolt. 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 now set, Demling is sharing his 2026 Preakness Stakes betting picks and 2026 Preakness Stakes predictions over at SportsLine. Go to SportsLine to see them.
Q&A
What are the odds for the 2026 Preakness Stakes horses?
Iron Honor is the favorite at 9-2, while Taj Mahal, Chip Honcho, and Incredibolt are each at 5-1.
Who is Jody Demling and what are his predictions for the Preakness Stakes?
Jody Demling is a horse racing expert known for accurately predicting race outcomes, including 11 Preakness winners in the past.
What happened to Iron Honor in the Wood Memorial?
Iron Honor finished seventh in the Wood Memorial after drawing the far outside post and facing challenges during the race.
How many Preakness winners has Jody Demling called correctly?
Jody Demling has called 11 of the last 21 Preakness winners correctly.
