Jody Demling, who has called 11 Preakness winners, reveals his 2026 Preakness Stakes picks for Saturday, May 16 at Laurel Park with Golden Tempo not in the field following Monday's Preakness post draw
By Ross Kelly May 14, 2026 at 9:00 pm ET • 3 min read 
Imagn Images For the third time in five years, the Kentucky Derby winner will sit out the Preakness Stakes. Trainer Cherie DeVaux is resting upset Derby winner Golden Tempo rather than chase Triple Crown glory. But the 2026 Preakness Stakes does feature 14 horses, none of which can be immediately written off. This year's race shifts to Laurel Park in Laurel, Md., with a scheduled post time of 6:50 p.m. ET on Saturday.
Iron Honor is the 9-2 favorite on the current Preakness Stakes odds board. Taj Mahal, Incredibolt, and Chip Honcho are all lined up at 5-1. Before making any 2026 Preakness Stakes picks, be sure to see the 2026 Preakness Stakes predictions and best bets from SportsLine's elite horse racing expert Jody Demling.
A fixture in the horse racing world who has been writing about, talking about and betting on races for years, Demling hit the top three finishers in the 2025 Kentucky Derby in the correct order. He also called 11 of the last 21 Preakness winners, including 2023, when he hit the winner, exacta, trifecta and superfecta. He hit the trifecta in the 2024 Preakness Stakes and nailed Journalism as the 2025 Preakness winner. Anyone who has followed him on horse racing betting sites could be way up.
Claim the latest DK Horse promo code to win a share of $151,000 if you wager $5 on the winning horse:
Now, with the 2026 Preakness Stakes field now set, Demling is sharing his 2026 Preakness Stakes betting picks and 2026 Preakness Stakes predictions over at SportsLine. Go to SportsLine to see them.
Top 2026 Preakness Stakes predictions
One of Demling's surprising 2026 Preakness Stakes picks: He is high on Napoleon Solo, even though he's a longer shot at 8-1. Napoleon Solo won his first two career races, including the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes at Aqueduct.
The last two races, Napoleon has faltered, taking fifth in both with diminished speed figures. Still, Demling admits he's had his eye on this horse since the beginning of his career, and is excited to see him in the Preakness Stakes 2026. "I like that he arrived a bit early to get a feel for the track. ... He's not impossible if he gets the trip." See which other horses to back at SportsLine.
Another surprise: He's fading Chip Honcho, even though he's one of the favorites at 5-1. The Steve Asmussen-trained horse had a great start to his race career, taking first or second in each of his first three races, and he did finish second at the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes on Valentine's Day, besting Kentucky Derby champion Rising Tempo.
But while Chip Honcho has had steady speed ratings over his career, it hasn't seen a steady increase with added experience or higher level of competition. Demling is keeping an eye on Chip Honcho, but at 5-1 Preakness Stakes odds, he likes other contenders a little more. See which other horses to fade at SportsLine.
How to make 2026 Preakness Stakes picks, bets
Demling is also especially high on an epic double-digit longshot "with a chance" to win it all. Anyone who backs this sleeper pick could hit it big. Demling is sharing which horse it is, along with his entire projected 2026 Preakness Stakes leaderboard, over at SportsLine.
Which horse wins the Preakness Stakes 2026, and which stunning longshot is a must-back? Check out the latest 2026 Preakness Stakes odds below, then visit SportsLine to see Demling's picks for the Preakness Stakes, all from the expert who has nailed the last three winners.
