The 2026 Preakness Stakes features Iron Honor as the 9-2 favorite, with Taj Mahal, Incredibolt, and Chip Honcho at 5-1. Expert Jody Demling, who has accurately predicted multiple winners, shares his insights and picks for the race.
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The 2026 Preakness Stakes field features a pair of half-siblings in Iron Honor and Taj Mahal. They are both sons of Nyquist, who won the 2016 Kentucky Derby and placed third at The Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown. The Kentucky-bred Iron Honor won the Gotham Stakes but was a disappointing seventh in the Wood Memorial, which was his last start before the Preakness Stakes 2026. Meanwhile, the Florida-bred Taj Mahal has won all three of his starts but has yet to compete in a Graded Stakes race.
The morning-line 2026 Preakness Stakes odds list Iron Honor as the 9-2 favorite, with Taj Mahal, Incredibolt and Chip Honcho all at 5-1 and Ocelli at 6-1 following Monday's post draw. 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 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.
One of Demling's surprising 2026 Preakness Stakes picks: He is high on Ocelli, even though he is not one of the top-four favorites. Ocelli is still winless in his career and only has one runner-up finish in seven races, but he has undeniable momentum entering the Preakness Stakes 2026.
The top contenders include Iron Honor as the 9-2 favorite, along with Taj Mahal, Incredibolt, and Chip Honcho, all at 5-1.
The morning-line odds list Iron Honor at 9-2, Taj Mahal, Incredibolt, and Chip Honcho at 5-1, and Ocelli at 6-1.
Jody Demling has accurately called 11 of the last 21 Preakness winners and hit the trifecta in the 2024 race.
Iron Honor and Taj Mahal are both sons of Nyquist, a notable Kentucky Derby winner, which adds a compelling family connection to their competition.
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He was a giant 70-1 longshot at the Kentucky Derby, but surged to third place and was charging hard at the end, posting a speed figure just one point below the top-two horses. In a lighter field at the Preakness, Demling expects Ocelli to be very much in the mix on Saturday.
"He's still a maiden, but was third in the Wood Memorial and ran third in the Derby," Demling told SportsLine. "For a split second, I thought he might win the Derby. He will be running in the end." See which other horses to back at SportsLine.
Demling is also especially high on an epic double-digit longshot who "will run better than his odds." 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.
| Post | Horse | Odds | Projection |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Taj Mahal | 5-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 2 | Ocelli | 6-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 3 | Crupper | 30-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 4 | Robusta | 30-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 5 | Talkin | 20-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 6 | Chip Honcho | 5-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 7 | The Hell We Did | 15-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 8 | Bull By The Horns | 30-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 9 | Iron Honor | 9-2 | SEE PICKS |
| 10 | Napoleon Solo | 8-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 11 | Corono De Oro | 30-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 12 | Incredibolt | 5-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 13 | Great White | 15-1 | SEE PICKS |
| 14 | Pretty Boy Miah | 15-1 | SEE PICKS |