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.
Key points
2026 Preakness Stakes features Iron Honor as the 9-2 favorite
Taj Mahal, Incredibolt, and Chip Honcho are all at 5-1
Jody Demling has a strong track record in horse racing predictions
Iron Honor and Taj Mahal are half-siblings, both sons of Nyquist
Ocelli is listed at 6-1 odds following the post draw
Iron HonorTaj MahalNyquistJody Demling
horse-racing
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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.
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.
Top 2026 Preakness Stakes predictions
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.
Q&A
Who are the top contenders for the 2026 Preakness Stakes?
The top contenders include Iron Honor as the 9-2 favorite, along with Taj Mahal, Incredibolt, and Chip Honcho, all at 5-1.
What are the odds for the horses in the 2026 Preakness Stakes?
The morning-line odds list Iron Honor at 9-2, Taj Mahal, Incredibolt, and Chip Honcho at 5-1, and Ocelli at 6-1.
What is Jody Demling's track record for predicting Preakness winners?
Jody Demling has accurately called 11 of the last 21 Preakness winners and hit the trifecta in the 2024 race.
What is the significance of Iron Honor and Taj Mahal being half-siblings?
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.