Iron Honor as favorite in a Preakness edition full of oddities

Without the Derby winner, with a maiden as a key figure, several last-minute changes, and being held at Laurel Park, the second leg of the Triple Crown will feature an atypical stage

Iron Honor installed as morning-line favorite for the Preakness / NYRA

LAUREL, Maryland (Special to Turf Diario).- The 2026 edition of the Preakness Stakes (G1) will be anything but conventional. The second jewel of the Triple Crown arrives surrounded by unusual circumstances, odd twists, and unexpected changes, beginning with the fact that it will not be run at its traditional home of Pimlico, currently undergoing reconstruction, but instead at Laurel Park. And that barely scratches the surface of a truly different story.

For the second consecutive year, the winner of the Kentucky Derby (G1) has elected to skip the Preakness and head straight to the Belmont Stakes (G1). Adding even more intrigue, the best-placed Derby finisher returning for the Preakness... is still a maiden.

As if that were not enough, the horse expected to start favorite was withdrawn just hours before the post-position draw, while another runner who was not even under consideration sneaked into the field at the last minute and now ranks among the leading contenders. It is no surprise that in the United States some have already begun joking that this year’s series resembles a true “Trifle Crown.”

Amid such an open landscape, favoritism falls to Iron Honor (Nyquist), who drew post 9 and was installed as the 9-2 morning-line choice. Trained by Chad Brown, the Gotham Stakes (G3) winner will attempt to repeat a formula that has already worked twice before for his trainer: run in the Wood Memorial (G2), skip the Derby, and arrive fresh for the Preakness.

Brown even compared the colt to Cloud Computing (Maclean’s Music), his 2017 Preakness winner.

“He’s really thriving for this race. He reminds me a lot of Cloud Computing. They’re very similar in size, physique, and movement,” Brown explained.

The biggest pre-race development came when Silent Tactic (Tacitus), runner-up in the Arkansas Derby (G1), was withdrawn once again because of the hoof issue that had already forced him out of the Kentucky Derby. His absence opened the door for Incredibolt, winner of the Virginia Derby (G3) and a troubled sixth at Churchill Downs after encountering significant traffic during his rally. The son of Bolt d’Oro, trained by Riley Mott, drew post 12 and was installed as one of the second choices at 5-1.

“With a race like the Preakness, you have to let the horse tell you what to do, and that’s exactly what he did,” said Ben Bernhard, vice president of Pin Oak Stud.

Perhaps the most incredible story in the Preakness belongs to Ocelli (Connect). Yes, he is still a maiden after five starts, but that did not stop him from finishing third in the Kentucky Derby after briefly taking the lead in deep stretch before being caught by Golden Tempo (Curlin) and Renegade (Into Mischief).

The Whit Beckman trainee drew post 2 at odds of 6-1.

“Being a maiden is just a label. He doesn’t run like a maiden,” Beckman summarized.

Taj Mahal (Nyquist) seeks another historic moment for female trainers

Following the impact created by Cherie DeVaux’s Derby victory with Golden Tempo, it will now be Brittany Russellattempting to continue the remarkable run for women trainers.

Her unbeaten Taj Mahal, winner of the Federico Tesio Stakes (L) and based at Laurel Park, will try to become the first Maryland-trained horse to win the Preakness since Deputed Testamony (Traffic Cop) in 1983. The son of Nyquist drew the rail and was also listed at 5-1.

“I don’t love the inside post, but he’s a horse who breaks very sharply. Hopefully he can secure a good position,” Russell commented.

Another fascinating entrant is Great White, who caused widespread concern before the Kentucky Derby when he flipped behind the gate and was subsequently scratched. Trainer John Ennis insisted the son of Volatile is fully recovered.

“He’s doing fantastic. I jogged him myself and he came back to the barn squealing, bucking, and full of energy,” Ennis said.

Also entered are Chip Honcho (Connect), Talkin (Good Magic), G1 winner Napoleon Solo (Liam’s Map), and Crupper, a son of the Argentine superstar Candy Ride.

But beyond the names and credentials, one feeling dominates: it has been a very long time since the Preakness arrived this open, this unpredictable, and this strange. And for that very reason, it may turn into one of the most fascinating editions in years.