2026 Preakness Stakes: Win, place and trifecta picks from horse racing guru

Horse racing's Triple Crown resumes on Saturday with the 2026 Preakness Stakes at Laurel Park in Laurel, Md. Held at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore every year since 1909, the Preakness has been relocated this year while Pimlico undergoes a major reconstruction. Because of the venue change, attendance for the race has been capped at 4,800, well below the record of 140,237 set in 2017. 

For Saturday, the lightly raced Iron Honor has been installed as the lukewarm 9-2 morning-line favorite in the 2026 Preakness Stakes odds. Taj Mahal (5-1), Chip Honcho (5-1), Incredibolt (5-1) and Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Ocelli (6-1) round out the top five choices on the odds board among the 14 Preakness Stakes horses. The connections of Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo have decided to skip the Preakness and point to the Belmont Stakes instead. Post time for the Preakness Stakes 2026 is 7:01 p.m. ET.

Before locking in any 2026 Preakness Stakes bets, you NEED to see what longtime horse racing guru Jeff Hochman has to say.

Hochman has shown a profit in 22 of the past 40 Triple Crown races. He nailed Big Brown in the 2008 Kentucky Derby at odds of 2-1. More recently, he swept the 2022 Triple Crown, capped off by Mo Donegal's win in the Belmont Stakes. In 2023, he cashed the Preakness with National Treasure.

Hochman delivered exceptional handicapping results during the summer 2025 racing season at two of the country's premier tracks, Saratoga and Del Mar. His combined 65.7% win rate across the two tracks represents elite-level performance that significantly exceeds industry benchmarks for professional handicappers. Join here to see what he's picking for Saturday's Preakness Stakes.

While a slew of horses could hit the board in the 2026 Preakness Stakes, Hochman has studied the field and revealed his picks. 

One surprise: Hochman is completely fading Ocelli, even though he is one of the favorites at 6-1. "The shorter stretch at Laurel and a lack of anticipated early speed in this field may not suit his running style," Hochman told SportsLine.

Instead Hochman's top pick is a horse with a "rare ability to use his early speed wisely." He also is high on a double-digit longshot who is a "significant overlay." You ABSOLUTELY NEED to see which horses they are before making any 2026 Preakness Stakes picks of your own.

So which horse wins the 2026 Preakness Stakes? Which double-digit longshot is a must-back? And how has Hochman constructed his wagers? ... Join SportsLine NOW to get Jeff Hochman's 2026 Preakness Stakes picks, all from the expert who has NAILED Triple Crown races!