2026 Preakness Stakes picks: Best bets, long shots, predictions for Saturday’s Triple Crown race
The 2026 Preakness Stakes will take place at Laurel Park without the Kentucky Derby winner, altering the usual betting dynamics. This absence has created a more open field, resembling the Kentucky Derby's competitive nature. Taj Mahal is the top pick to win, while Talkin is highlighted as a promising long shot.
- ▪The 2026 Preakness Stakes is being held at Laurel Park.
- ▪For the second consecutive year, the Kentucky Derby winner is not competing in the Preakness.
- ▪Taj Mahal is the best bet to win at 5-1 odds, having won all three of his previous races at Laurel Park.
- ▪Talkin is a 20-1 long-shot pick with a significant jockey upgrade to Irad Ortiz Jr.
- ▪Napoleon Solo and Bull by the Horns are recommended for exotic bets due to their potential in a fast-paced race.
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Betting 2026 Preakness Stakes picks: Best bets, long shots, predictions for Saturday’s Triple Crown race By Michael Leboff Published May 16, 2026, 8:00 a.m. ET Laurel Park will host the 2026 Preakness Stakes. AP Gambling content 21+. The New York Post may receive an affiliate commission if you sign up through our links. Read our editorial standards for more information. In most years, the Preakness Stakes and Kentucky Derby profile as two very different races. The Derby is almost always about the sum of its parts. With a 20-horse field and a 150,000-capacity crowd, the spectacle is the star. The script used to flip for the Preakness. Up until recently, the Preakness was all about one horse: The winner of the Kentucky Derby.
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