All articles tagged with #preakness
SportsLine's Gene Menez, Michelle Yu and Jeff Hochman share their top-three selections for eight stakes on Preakness Stakes day at Laurel Park, including a best bet (Zihnal in the James W. Murphy Stakes) and a double-digit longshot among their picks.
DRF's expert handicappers publish picks and analysis for the Preakness Stakes at Laurel Park, offering selections and race previews ahead of the May 16 event (article dated May 15, 2026).
After the draw for the 2026 Preakness at Laurel Park, Iron Honor is the 9-2 favorite with Incredibolt at 5-1 and Ocelli at 6-1; Taj Mahal sits at 5-1 among favorites, but Demling has Taj Mahal not hitting the board, instead backing Iron Honor and Incredibolt and highlighting an epic longshot with a real chance to win, with full picks available on SportsLine.
A preview of Preakness Week 2026 highlights seven graded stakes shaping the field, with Incredibolt entering to boost the lineup to 14 and Silent Tactic withdrawing due to a hoof problem; the piece tracks contender movement and prep notes ahead of Monday’s draw, as Pimlico’s redevelopment continues.
The 151st Preakness Stakes moves to Laurel Park on May 16 due to Pimlico renovations—the first time since 1908 the race isn’t at Pimlico. Early odds list Crude Velocity as the 4-1 favorite, Iron Honor at 19-1, and Golden Tempo at 70-1 (pending final confirmation). SportsLine betting expert Jody Demling, who has a track record of high-accuracy picks, is fading Golden Tempo and highly backing Taj Mahal at 20-1, with full projection leaderboards and picks available on the site.
Golden Tempo is highlighted as facing a tougher test in the Preakness fair odds, with analysts weighing contenders and potential outcomes as the race approaches.
NBC Sports will use the Kentucky Derby as a lead-in for NBA playoff coverage this year, with a potential Preakness lead-in as well. Derby weekend will feature the first batch of postseason doubleheaders, and Peacock/NBCSN will simulcast some games. NBCUniversal owns rights to 15-23 first-round games, 7-11 in the second round, and the full Western Conference Finals, with up to half of early-round inventory potentially allocated to Peacock.
The 2023 Preakness Stakes was a disappointing race with only seven horses running, and only one willing to go for the early lead. The winners of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, Mage and National Treasure, have zero stakes wins between them other than their victories in the first two legs of the Triple Crown. The article compares their lack of stakes wins to the all-time greats Affirmed and Spectacular Bid, who had a combined 23 stakes wins through their respective victories in the Preakness. The author laments the current state of horse racing and the Triple Crown.
Rock the Boat, Be Better, Composer's Dream, Arabian Lion, and Amani's Image were among the winners on the 2023 Preakness Day at Pimlico Race Course. Bob Baffert's horse, Arabian Lion, won the first Stakes race of the day, and Havnameltdown, his second horse, was euthanized after suffering a catastrophic injury. Straight No Chaser won by 7 1/2 lengths, and Nagirroc set a new track record in the final undercard race before the Preakness. National Treasure won the 148th running of the Preakness with a winning time of 1:55.12, and Diamond Gem AA won the day's final race.
National Treasure won the Preakness, giving trainer Bob Baffert his record-breaking eighth Preakness title. However, the day was marred by the on-track euthanizing of Havnameltdown, a horse trained by Baffert, and the criticism of Baffert's history of doping violations and suspensions. Animal rights groups called for Baffert to be barred from the track. Despite the tragedy, National Treasure's victory provided a moment of triumph for Baffert and his team.
Havnameltdown, a horse trained by Bob Baffert, was euthanized on the track during the Chick Lang Stakes at Pimlico Race Course. Jockey Luis Saez was thrown to the ground and taken to the hospital. The horse suffered a non-operable broken left front fetlock injury. The incident comes after seven horses died at Churchill Downs before the Kentucky Derby, and two more have died since then, bringing the total to nine. The sport has been under fire for many years for the number of fatalities.
Havnameltdown, a horse trained by Bob Baffert, was euthanized after going down with an injury and unseating his jockey during a race on the Preakness undercard. Jockey Luis Saez was taken to a hospital for evaluation, complaining of leg pain. The fatality comes in the aftermath of the Kentucky Derby being overshadowed by the deaths of seven horses at Churchill Downs over a span of 10 days.
With the scratch of First Mission, National Treasure becomes the most likely value bet in the Preakness Stakes, as Mage is expected to be odds-on. While Mage is still the most likely winner, National Treasure's front-end threat is now even stronger with one less competitor. Betting on 1, 5, 6, 7 in verticals may also make sense if Mage's tank is empty.
First Mission, one of the top contenders for the Preakness, has been scratched from the race due to an issue with his left hind ankle, according to veterinarians. The removal of First Mission leaves seven horses in the field for the $1.65 million race. Racing officials have increased testing and veterinary review procedures for horses running in the Preakness and other top stakes races this weekend at Pimlico Race Course as preventative measures to limit injuries.
Rain expected to track south with less intensity, resulting in warmer temperatures than expected. A chilly air mass will follow, bringing the possibility of the last frost of the season inland. The next chance for rain is expected on Preakness Saturday. Inland frost is expected on Thursday morning. Showers are expected on Saturday, possibly affecting Preakness events.