Handicapping the 151st Preakness; Something “Old” Something “New”

Posted On 15 May 2026

By Rick Francis —-

The 151st Running of the Preakness Stakes will wear the worn out addage of “something old, something new”. The something old is for the second consecutive year the current Kentucky Derby winner bypass the middle leg fo racing’s Triple Crown and opt for a Belmont Stakes start at Saratoga next month. The something new is location as in an hour drive south to Laurel Park as Pimlico under goes renovations. Nervertheless, a full starting gate of fourteen 3yo’s will battle have their name inscribed on the coveted Woodlawn Vase and history books.
Weather should be drop dead perfect, Good Luck to all.

1) Taj Mahal (Russell/Russell);
Nyquist colt is a perfect 3-for-3 all on this course. Each of his wins came inside, middle and outside post position so unlike the Kentucky Derby stigma of breaking from the one this will not effect. He’s a certifide stakes player but tries his first Graded competitionut this is his home course, will factor.

2) Ocelli (Beckman/Gaffalione); as was the cse in the Kentucky Derby, this Connect colt will be the field’s lone maiden.He’s finished third in last two highlighted by strong Derby showing. A board finisher in 5-of-7 lifetimes which at best is his finish here.

3) Crupper (Von Hemel/Alvarado);exits a gutsy stakes win at Oaklawn where he won twice and showed three times. A big plus Junior staying on but he’ll have to find another gear to win this.

4) Rubusta (O’Neill/Bejarano);missed by a head 3 back in San Felipe, his only board finish in four Graded starts.

5) Talkin (Gargan/Ortiz, I. Jr);gets jock upgrade after after a well back & beaten third in G1 Blue Grass; it would be a shockes as well as 1/2 this field.

6) Chip Honcho (Asmussen/Ortiz.J); following a game win in the Gun Runner stakes at Fair Grounds, Connect colt had a couple of close ones in the Lecomte and Grade 2 Risen Star before “bouncing” in the La. Derby; I think he “Bounces” back to take top spot.

7) The Hell We Did (Fincher/Saez); in his first test facing Graded company, this Authentic colt held his own to place in the G3 Lexington, a field similar in strength to today’s group; value in exotics.

8) Bull by the Horns (Joseph/Husbands); exits a win over the synthetics at Turfway, a contest not putting much stock into; speed numbers are well below what’s needed here.

9) Iron Honor (Brown/Prat) the “Wise Guys’ play and why not; jock/trainer combo wins at nearly 30%, however that throtterling he took as the Wood fave cannot be overlooked; he’ll have to beat me.

10) Napoleon Solo (Summers/Lopez); Grade 1 winner of the Champagne as a juvenile has yet to show any of those skills as sophomre, lowlighted by his dismal 5th in Wood; another who can try and take my money.

11) Corena de Oro (Stewart/Velazquez); was last one out for a Derby start and really since his third in Lexington connections have been pointing to this; jock change to Velazquez helps but he’s been ridden by a couple solid jocks in B.Hernandez and Leparoux. Dallas Stewart has a knack of finding a board spot in these contests and look for same in here.

12) Incredibolt (Mott R./Torres);Va. Derby winner gave a good accounting of himself with his sixth place effort in Ky Derby; this distance is in his wheelhouse; using in all plays.

13) Great White (Ennis/Achard); forget the Derby flop, his lone dirt effort was a very well beaten 5th in Blue Grass where some had bet him down to 7-1, I won’t be making thatmistake.