Tonight at Laurel Park in Laurel, Maryland, the 2026 Preakness Stakes is taking place. This year is the 151st Preakness Stakes, as the race began in 1873. This race features 14 horses, with three: Taj Mahal, Chip Honcho, and Incredibolt currently tied as the favorite at 5/1.
Check out my best bet for the King of the Track contest for the 2026 Preakness Stakes below.
You can get in on the action for the 2026 Preakness Stakes right here on DK Horse and DraftKings Racing.
King of the Track Pick: Taj Mahal (5/1)
Taj Mahal is the only horse in this race with prior experience at Laurel Park. In 2026, Taj Mahal had three first-place finishes, with the last one coming at the 2026 Federico Tesio, which took place at Laurel Park on April 18. Taj Mahal enters this race with Jockey Sheldon Russell and Trainer Brittney Russell. This would be the first married couple as Trainer and Jockey to win a Triple Crown race.
Because of the continuity with Sheldon and Brittney Russell while racing at a familiar track, I’m taking Taj Mahal at 5/1 to win the 2026 Preakness Stakes. The No. 1 position has produced 13 winners, with the last one coming with National Treasure in 2023.

How to Play King of the Track
- Opt in to receive your King of the Track token in the Promotions page.
- Bet on a horse to win the 2026 Preakness Stakes ($5 minimum wager) on DK Horse.
- If the horse you wagered on with your token wins the Preakness Stakes, you win a share of $151,000 in bonus bets paid out the next day.