The wait for a Triple Crown champion continues. Golden Tempo, who stunned the field with a dramatic come-from-behind victory at the Kentucky Derby, will not be in the starting gate for the 2026 Preakness Stakes this Saturday, May 16, at 6:50 p.m. ET. That leaves the door wide open for a fresh face to claim the Black-Eyed Susans at Laurel Park.
Only three Derby runners—Incredibolt, Great White, and Ocelli—are expected to compete in this year's Preakness, and all three are poised to be top contenders. The morning line favorite is Iron Honor at 9-2, but the race is anything but a lock. Chip Honcho, Incredibolt, and Taj Mahal are all close behind at 5-1, while Ocelli sits at 6-1 following a strong Derby showing. Napoleon Solo rounds out the top contenders at 8-1.
Before you place your bets, it pays to listen to the experts. SportsLine's Michelle Yu has been on a tear. She kicked off 2025 by correctly calling Citizen Bull's win in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes, then nailed victories for Forever Young (Saudi Cup), Journalism (San Felipe Stakes), Sandman (Arkansas Derby), and Mindframe (Churchill Downs Stakes). She also hit the exacta in the 2025 Kentucky Derby and followed that up with the Fierceness-Journalism exacta in the Pacific Classic. More recently, in March 2026, she nailed the Renegade-Silent Tactic-Taptastic trifecta in the Arkansas Derby. Now, with post positions set and odds on the board, Yu is sharing her 2026 Preakness Stakes picks and predictions.
One horse Yu is particularly high on is Taj Mahal. The colt is a perfect 3-for-3 in his career at Laurel Park, giving him a distinct home-track advantage. At the Kentucky Derby, trainer Cherie DeVaux made history as the first woman to win the race. Now, Yu believes another female trainer, Brittany Russell, could be on the verge of making her own history in the Preakness. Taj Mahal has the resume to back it up, which explains why he's among the favorites at 5-1. All three of his victories have come at Laurel Park, making him a serious threat in the Run for the Black-Eyed Susans.
For full picks, predictions, and betting strategies, head to SportsLine to see how Yu is playing the 2026 Preakness Stakes.