標籤: horses

Tonight, thousands of horse racing fans will gather at Laurel Park Race Track to see which competitor will win the second leg of the 2026 Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes. This year’s field features only three competitors from this year’s Kentucky Derby, and none of them are race winner Golden Tempo.

So, who will win the 2026 “Run for the Black-Eyed Susan”? Our goal is to help your betting decisions with our rankings of the 14 competitors in Saturday’s Preakness Stakes and some good win, place and show options.

14.Robusta (30-1)

Doug O’Neill-trained colt Robusta is one of only three horses competing in the Kentucky Derby, which will also take to the track at Laurel Park on Saturday. However, he is one of the biggest long shots in this year’s race due to his recent form.

Before running in the Derby, Robusta finished seventh at Santa Anita ahead of the competition he faced in Kentucky. He then finished 14th among 19 horses at Churchill Downs. It would be surprising for Robusta to reach the top three.

13. Bull by the Horns (30-1)

The colt Bull By The Horns, owned by Peachtree Stable and Mark Corrado, has had an up-and-down career in his first five races. While he placed first at Florida in his second race in November, he came seventh in the Fourth of Youth in February and finished well behind many Derby horses.

Although he won the 2026 Rushway in March, he has struggled on fast dirt tracks, as he will this weekend.

12. Crupper (30-1)

After a sixth-place finish to start his career, the Robert Zoellner-trained colt Crupper is on the rise. He has won two of his last three races, including a win at Bathhouse Raw last month. However, the three-year-old is entering the Preakness Stakes as a major underdog due to the weak competition he has met so far.

11. Gold Crown (30-1)

Three-year-old Corona de Oro has been a solid but unspectacular horse in his first five races. In March, the Dallas Stewart-trained colt earned his first career win. However, last month, he finished behind fellow Preakness competitor The Hell We Did at the 2026 Lexington.

Since The Hell We Did is a sleeper pick on Saturday, De Oro is a possible choice for a show bet in the race.

10. Talkin’ (20-1)

After winning on his debut in August last year, the Danny Gargan-trained colt Talkin has fallen short since then. Which also includes finishing ninth at the 2025 Remsen in December. He got a chance to face Derby and Stakes level competition in his last two starts and peaked with a third-place finish in the Blue Grass last month. That’s why Talkin’ is a big underdog on Saturday.

9. Great White (15-1)

The John Ennis-trained colt Great White has been all over the map in his first four races. The three-year-old won his debut match in December and the John Battaglia Memorial in February. However, White finished fifth in his other two races, including the Blue Grass in April.

This unpredictability is the main reason why he remained a weak player on Saturday. Furthermore, despite being an impressive specimen, losing his composure minutes before entering the post at Kentucky adds to that unpredictable reputation. White has the size and talent, but seems too risky.

8. Napoleon Solo (8-1)

After starting his career with consecutive wins including the October 2025 Champagne, Gold Square horse Napoleon Solo has not looked good since. In February, he faced tough competition at the Fountain of Youth and finished fifth. Then last month, he went head-to-head again in the Preakness and Derby-level contests and again came in fifth.

Solo gave bookmakers no reason to think he could be an option for a spot or a show, let alone a long-shot option to win.

7.Oceli (6-1)

Ouseley, a horse trained by D. Whitworth Beckman, received a chance at the 2026 Kentucky Derby after several horses, including Right to Party, were eliminated from the race. Although Ouseley had six championships on his resume, he had no wins to his name.

Nevertheless, to the surprise of many the colt finished third at Kentucky. After that, Occelli’s showing can’t be doubted and should be considered a rock-solid show choice again this weekend.

6. Pretty Boy Mia (15-1)

Jeremiah Englehart-trained horse Pretty Boy Mia is an intriguing underdog for Saturday’s Preakness Stakes. Although he finished fourth at Aqueduct in February, he has been strong in his other three races this year. Which also includes consecutive wins in their last two.

The big question is whether his success is based on his athletic talent or the competition he has faced so far in his career.

5. Incredibolt (5-1)

The colt Incredibolt, trained by Riley Mott, has had a checkered career. That’s why he was last in the betting odds for the Kentucky Derby after finishing sixth in the G3 Face off in January. However, he turned heads by winning the Virginia Derby in March, leading some to wonder if he might perform better than expected in the Derby.

He did not do so and finished sixth. However, oddsmakers still rate the colt highly, and he is viewed as one of the favorites in Saturday’s Preakness Stakes.

4. Chip Honcho (5-1)

At the end of 2025, the Steve Asmussen-trained colt Chip Honcho was looking like a potential contender for this year’s Triple Crown. However, in 2026, he surprisingly struggled in three of his races. While there he finished second in the 2026 Risen Star in February, came fourth in the Lecomte in January, and came fifth in the high-level competition in the Louisiana Derby in March.

However, being trained by a two-time Preakness winner is a major reason why Honcho is a secret choice to win in the Preakness. Also making him a strong position pick.

3. The Hell We Did (15-1)

Todd Fincher-trained colt The Hell We Did is an interesting option to consider for riskier punters. Although he has had intermittent difficulties leading the way in races, he has looked very good in his first four races, with two second-place finishes and two first-place finishes. He is a legitimate choice to secure a surprise win on Saturday, and should be considered for all Place and Show bets.

2. Iron Honor (9-2)

Elite trainer Chad Brown has a horse in Saturday’s race, and he is the current favorite Iron Honor. Honor looked very good in his first two races as he took consecutive first-place finishes to start his career. However, at the Wood Memorial in April, he surprisingly finished seventh. But many people believe that they are given tough competition in the beginning itself and are thrown out of the game.

Honor is the safest bet to win, place or perform in the 2026 Preakness Stakes.

1. Taj Mahal (5-1)

Brittany Russell-trained colt Taj Mahal enters the 2026 Preakness Stakes as the top selection for good reason. While the three-year-old only has three races on his resume, he has still performed excellently. 2026 Federico Tesio won all three, including.

Palace is a strong spot or show bet on a Saturday night, especially under the guidance of one of the game’s top coaches. However, we’re going a little further and picking him to win the stakes.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

At 6:57 PM ET, approximately 150,000 people will be inside Churchill Downs Racecourse to see which competitor will win the first leg of the 2026 Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby. This year’s field includes a deep list of contenders, hidden horses and long shots. But who is the best of the best at Saturday’s event?

We want to answer that question with our rankings of the 2026 Kentucky Derby horses, as well as the best bets to win, show and place tonight.

20.Oceli (50-1)

Ouseley, a horse trained by D. Whitworth Beckman, jumped into the 2026 Kentucky Derby after several horses, including Right to Party, were ruled out of tonight’s race. Although Ouseley has six championships on his resume, he does not have any wins to his name. Furthermore, he is entering this year’s derby on a downward trend after finishing sixth in his last three matches.

19. Fearless (50-1)

Early in his career, the Jeff Mullins-trained colt Intrepido showed great promise after winning two of his first three races, including last year’s American Pharoah. However, since then, the horse has been struggling. Finished fifth in the following race, and finished fourth at Santa Anita a few weeks earlier. That’s why he’s a big underdog this Saturday.

18.Robusta (50-1)

Calumet Farms product Robusta has been awarded a spot in this year’s event after suffering three scratches during race week. The colt is a huge underdog due to his disappointing career so far. While the three-year-old has first- and second-place finishes on his five-race resume, he also has a pair of seventh-place finishes. That includes a showdown against several derby competitors at Santa Anita last month.

17. Great White (50-1)

The John Ennis-trained colt Great White has been all over the map in his first four races. The three-year-old won his debut match in December and the John Battaglia Memorial in February. However, White finished fifth in his other two races, including the Blue Grass in April. This unpredictability is a major reason why he is one of the biggest underdogs on Saturday.

16. golden time (30-1)

The Cherie Devaux-trained horse Golden Tempo made a solid start to his career by winning the first two races. However, when his team increased the competition this year by placing him in a G2 race, the three-year-old struggled. Finished third in two races in Louisiana. That’s why the tempo on Saturday is seen as a long shot.

15. Litmus Test (30-1)

Bob Baffert’s colt Litmus Test is one of the most experienced competitors in this weekend’s race. However, this is rarely a good thing. In six races, he has only two wins, and his chances of advancing to Saturday are long after a very disappointing seventh-place finish in the Arkansas Derby in March.

14. Six Speed ​​(50-1)

The Bhupat Seemar-trained colt Six Speed ​​is one of the exotic-bred contenders in this Saturday’s Kentucky Derby. The horse is also one of the more inexperienced competitors, having only three contests in his career. However, Speed ​​has performed well so far, winning two of those three races. Nevertheless, given the weak level of competition he has faced so far in the UAE, he remains a long chance in the derby.

For riskier punters looking for an under-the-radar show option with great odds, Speed ​​is a horse to keep an eye on.

13. Albus (30-1)

The Riley Mott-trained horse Albus had a slow start when he debuted last year. Finished fourth and third in his first two matches. However, 2026 has been far better for the three-year-old as he has scored two consecutive wins, including the Wood Memorial in April. Albus is an interesting show choice on Saturday.

12. Wonder Dean (30-1)

Japanese colt Wonder Dean is one of the international competitors in the 2026 event. The Yoshinari Yamamoto-trained colt has appeared on the track only twice since his debut in the Saudi Derby in February. However, a UAE Derby victory over fellow Kentucky contender Six Speed ​​shows he is the top foreign horse this weekend. Dean is a solid choice for the show on Saturday.

11. Pavlovian (30-1)

The Doug O’Neill-trained colt Pavlovian is one of the most experienced horses in this year’s race after competing in 10 contests since his debut in May 2025. However, he is one of the biggest underdogs in the event as he has just two wins to his name.

Nevertheless, despite average performances throughout his career, Pavlovian finished second to fellow Kentucky competitor Emerging Markets in the Louisiana Derby. So he has a chance to win the show bet, but he’s a sleeper tonight.

10. Incredibolt (20-1)

The colt Incredibolt, trained by Riley Mott, has had a checkered career. That’s why he’s at the back of the betting odds at the event after finishing sixth at the G3 Face off in January. However, Incredibolt turned heads in March when he won the Virginia Derby, leading some to wonder if he could perform better than expected on Kentucky’s fast dirt track and likely place second this weekend.

9. Mighty (20-1)

Potente, a three-year-old trained by racing legend Bob Baffert, is an interesting betting choice heading into the Kentucky Derby. The colt has appeared on the track only three times since his debut in January. However, he has scored two wins and a second against notable Kentucky contender So Happy at Santa Anita in early April. Potente is an interesting alternative to place and show bets.

8. Chief Wallaby (8-1)

The William Mott-trained colt Chief Wallaby will take to the track for the fourth time in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday. Although there are good odds for the three-year-old, it would be a big surprise if he won the race. In his last two meets, he has lost twice to fellow Kentucky competitor Commandment, including a third-place finish to both Commandment and The Puma in Florida.

7. Dannon Bourbon (20-1)

Although Dannon Bourbon grew up in Kentucky, the Manabu Ikezo-trained colt went to Chiba, Japan in March for his debut and finished first. Despite being the least experienced of all the horses in this year’s race, Bourbon has solid prospects. Showing that the three-year-old has talent will be a big problem on Saturday. The Colts are a sleeper option as a win bet tonight.

6. Emerging Markets (15-1)

The Chad Brown-trained colt Emerging Markets is an under-the-radar sleeper in the 2026 Kentucky Derby. Yes, he only has two races on his resume after making his debut in February. However, after those races, he has two wins on his record. Including a big win in the Louisiana Derby, where he defeated fellow Kentucky Derby competitors Pavlovian and Golden Tempo. The market is a great option for place bets.

5. Very Happy (15-1)

The Mark Glatt-trained colt So Happy enters this year’s Kentucky Derby as a top contender after an impressive start to his career. Since debuting in January 2025, the three-year-old has won three of his four races. Although he faltered when finishing third at San Felipe in March, So Happy bounced back with a big win at Santa Anita in April. A race that included fellow Kentucky competitors Potente and Intrepido.

Happy could certainly show up on Saturday, but he’s an intriguing option for bettors looking for a sleeper option for the Place.

4. Forward Movement (6-1)

Furthermore, Edo’s career had an up-and-down start, finishing third and fifth in his first two races. However, since then, the Brad Cox-trained colt has been on fire. Won three of his last four starts, while his only loss was a second-place finish to one of the favorites in the Kentucky Derby, The Puma. Also Edo will get a lot of stakes for the show and place tonight, but he has the talent to win it all.

3.Pumas (10-1)

Puma – trained by Gustavo Delgado – is a favorite going into the 2026 Kentucky Derby as he has faced stiff competition during his four-race career. While they only have one win (never lower than a third-place finish), they have previously faced Kentucky competitors Chief Wallaby, Renegade, Forward Edo and Commandment.

This gives Delgado important information to further prepare his talented horse for victory in Saturday’s race.

2. Ajna (6-1)

Commandment is one of two Brad Cox-trained horses who are a real threat to win the Kentucky Derby. After a surprising fourth place finish on its debut in October, the team has reworked and Commandment is very excited ahead of this year’s race.

The colt has won four in a row, including big wins over The Pumas and Chief Wallaby in the Florida Derby in March. Commandment will be a popular choice among bettors and is our pick to win the 2026 Kentucky Derby.

1. Renegade (4-1)

The Todd Pletcher-trained colt Renegade enters the 2026 Kentucky Derby as one of the favorites due to his strong five-race career and recent hot streak. While he finished third in his debut in August 2025, he has steadily improved in each race since.

Renegade has won two in a row, including a strong performance in March when he placed first in the Arkansas Derby. However, his February win at Sam Davis may have been his best win to date as it also included another Kentucky contender, The Puma. Renegade is the safest bet for Show and Place on Saturday, and the favorite to win for good reason.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

Denver Nuggets cornerstone and proud Serbian Nikola Jokic is passionate about horses and horse racing, but he’s not the most animated person when speaking in front of a camera. The contradiction between his private life and public life was on display during a media session at NBA All-Star Weekend.

When the (seemingly) young Texan was asked “what kind of horse” he should get, Jokic offered a simple but honest explanation.

According to the Oh No He Didn’t “But I don’t know which one is the best… maybe the most expensive, that would be the best (laughs).”

“I live in Texas, and I want to get a horse, which horse should I get?”

Nikola Jokic: “The best… the most expensive, maybe he will be the best.” 😅pic.twitter.com/OYx7ZoCKap

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 14 February 2026

Jokic is probably bombarded with questions about horses all year long, as it’s one of the only things people really know about the man beyond his supreme basketball talent, love for the music of his native country, and the fact that he was modeled on a Taco Bell commercial. The five-time All-NBA First-Team selection probably has a lot of knowledge about horses, but perhaps this wasn’t the right time or place for him to talk in detail about one of his most iconic breeds.

Still, this reaction would lend credence to the notion that Jokic is one of the most reckless superstars in recent memory. He’s certainly not the only standout player to display a reserved personality – San Antonio Spurs legend Tim Duncan comes to mind – but there’s a growing perception that the 30-year-old center dislikes the attention. A column about his allegedly brief exchange with a Serbian folklore group after last Saturday’s win against the Chicago Bulls only added to fans’ curiosity.

No one knows what to expect from Nikola Jokic when he is in the public eye, because he is truly an enigma. However, there is no mystery as to what will happen on the court. The sensational big man is averaging a triple-double for the second consecutive season, leading the league with 12.3 rebounds and 10.7 assists per game and ranking in the top-10 with 28.7 points per contest. Had he not missed 16 games with a knee injury he would have certainly been an MVP favorite.

Jokic is a hoops expert and an avid horse owner. Those sides of him are different, but apparently they resonate with the public in the same way. He will start in his sixth consecutive NBA All-Star Game, then turn his attention to the second half of the 2025-26 campaign and then return to his favorite spot when his Nuggets close on business for the summer.