The Hell We Did profile: 2026 Preakness Stakes odds, post position, history and more to know

That effort prompted trainer Todd Fincher to give the horse a shot in the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland on April 11. The Hell We Did pressed pacesetter Corona de Oro that day but could not hold off the late rush of Trendsetter and finished second.

That performance, which was his first around two turns, is enough for Fincher to step up in class once again, in the Preakness Stakes, and the colt has garnered a lot of support from wiseguy horseplayers. He certainly has the pedigree to win a race like this. A son of 2020 Kentucky Derby winner Authentic out of Rose's Desert, The Hell We Did is a half-brother to 2024 Saudi Cup winner Senor Buscador.

He also has been training at Laurel Park for two weeks and has been impressing trackside observers with how he has worked in the mornings. One even called The Hell We did a "monster" this week.

Pace projections also say that he should get the perfect trip: right behind the slew of speed horses and right in front of the deep closers.

He will need to get faster, and, despite his pedigree, the 9 ½-furlong distance of the Preakness remains a question. But this is a horse who's moving in the right direction at the right time.

The Hell We Did has become a bit of the wiseguy horse for the Preakness, which could shorten his price below the 15-1 morning line at DK Horse and 1/ST BET. Claim our jumbo-sized 1/ST BET offer here to get a $500 sign-up bonus with the promo code 500BET:

Post draw analysis

The draw is not as important for a midpack runner like The Hell We Did, but he drew perfectly anyway, in post No. 7. Jockey Luis Saez was able to get the colt out of the gate quickly in the Lexington Stakes and, with another sharp start on Saturday, should be able to get The Hell We Did in the proper position early again.