2026 Preakness Stakes horses, odds, posts, predictions: Expert who nailed last three winners unveils picks

The 2026 Preakness Stakes is set for Saturday, May 16, as the middle jewel of the Triple Crown unfolds. There won't be a Triple Crown winner again in 2026, as Golden Tempo's connections announced on May 6 that the surprise Kentucky Derby winner will not run. Laurel Park in Laurel, Md., will host the Preakness Stakes 2026 due to construction at Pimlico Downs. Bet on the Preakness at FanDuel Racing now. Claim your new user bonus here:

The early 2026 Preakness Stakes odds list Crude Velocity as the 4-1 favorite. Other Preakness Stakes contenders are Iron Honor (19-1), Taj Mahal (20-1) and Cherokee Nation (22-1). 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 approaching and horse racing futures odds on the board, 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 Taj Mahal, even though he's a double-digit longshot at 20-1. The 3-year-old colt, trained by Brittany T. Russell, is 3-for-3 in his short career, with his most notable wins coming at the Federico Tesio Stakes and the Miracle Wood Stakes, both races run at this track.

"Trainer Brittney Russell will saddle the local star; the son of Derby winner Nyquist is 3-for-3 with all of his races at Laurel Park. A home field advantage?" Demling said. Demling projects that Taj Mahal is a top-four contender and that he offers better value than horses with similar odds such as Cherokee Nation and Silent Tactic. See which other horses to back at SportsLine. Bet on the Preakness at DK Horse. Sign up for DraftKings Racing here:

How to make 2026 Preakness Stakes picks, bets

Demling is also especially high on an epic double-digit longshot who's well-rested and the perfect fit for the Preakness. 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.

2026 Preakness Stakes odds