The Preakness Stakes is back, and while the Triple Crown dream may be on hold again, the excitement is just as high. For the third time in five years—and the fifth since 2019—the second jewel of the Triple Crown will run without the Kentucky Derby winner. This year, Golden Tempo is sitting out the Preakness to focus on the Belmont Stakes on June 6, following a growing trend. Last year, Sovereignty did the same before winning the Belmont, and the last Triple Crown champion remains Justify in 2018.

This Saturday, May 16, the action moves to Laurel Park in Laurel, Maryland, with post time set for 6:50 p.m. ET. The morning line favorite is Iron Honor at 9-2, but four other horses are listed at 6-1 or lower, making this a wide-open race. If you're looking for an edge, history offers some clues. Since 1909, when the starting gate was introduced, most winners have come from gate No. 8 or lower, but gate No. 6 has the most victories with 17. That bodes well for Chip Honcho (5-1), who will break from that post. The last horse to win from gate No. 6 was Rombauer in 2021.

The last three Preakness winners have started from gate No. 5 or lower, including last year's champion, Journalism, from gate No. 2. Seize the Grey (2024) came from post No. 5, and National Treasure (2023) from post No. 1. Meanwhile, gate No. 3 has the longest drought among the front seven posts, with its last winner being California Chrome in 2014.

With so much history to consider, making smart bets on exacta, trifecta, and superfecta wagers requires a sharp eye. That's where horse racing expert Jody Demling comes in. A fixture in the sport for years, Demling has an impressive track record: he hit the top three finishers in the 2025 Kentucky Derby in the correct order, and he's called 11 of the last 21 Preakness winners. In 2023, he nailed the winner, exacta, trifecta, and superfecta, and he also hit the trifecta in the 2024 Preakness. For 2026, his picks could be your ticket to cashing in.