Preakness 2026 Picks: Incredibolt and Saturday's Laurel Stakes

The 151st Preakness will take place at Laurel after 118 runnings over the Pimlico oval. The race plans to be back at "Old Hill Top" next year with renovations in progress. The weather is forecasted to 86 degrees and sunny. With the Derby winner passing, there should be some good value to be had in the stake races. Let's get handicapping!

Race #8 - The G-3 Maryland Sprint - 6f - 2:48pm

The race should be a speed players dream. This could be a wire-to-wire effort or set up the stalkers if too fast.

#7 - Hymn = The gelding ships in from Oaklawn Park for the Ron Moquette barn with Rafael Bejarano in the irons. They do very well as a team winning 22% together the past year. The son of McKinzie should set up shop just off the pacesetter and Bejarano will try and save any ground for the run to the wire. He tipped out going 3 wide last out and kicked into high gear down the lane. - Use with #6 - Celtic Connection and #8 - Slam Notion.

Race #10 - The G-3 Dinner Party - 1 1/8 on the turf - 4:11 pm

#6 - Dresden Row = Hails from the Todd Pletcher barn with turf specialist Flavien Prat aboard. They are winning 26% as a team and Prat should have the son of Lord Nelson close to the pace poised to pounce. He has started 4 times on the green and is 4/4 ITM. Prat had him up close last out at Keeneland and took off once the head of the lane opened up. This is his 2nd start of the year and has a sparkling work at CD going 47.1 for 4f. - Prat will save ground and take over around the far turn. - Use with #5 - A Bourbon for Tony and #4 - Fort Washington.

Race #11 - The G-3 Gallorette - 1 1/16 on the turf - 4:53pm

#7 - Child of the Moon = Irad Ortiz up for Chad Brown and they do excellent work together winning 21% together. Ortiz is the strongest finisher in racing and was a beaten chalk at Keeneland after being fractious in the starting gate. This daughter of The Great Gatsby (IRE) can come flying when the pace breaks down. She is 6/11 ITM on the greensward and Ortiz and Brown shine bright on the marquee days. Use with #6 - Cheetah Lady and #4 - Warming.

Race #13 - The 151st running of the G-1 Preakness Stakes - 1 3/16 on the main track - 7:01pm

#12 - Incredibolt = Riley Mott brings this son of Bolt d'Oro to post off a 6th place finish in the Derby with more in the tank. Jaime Torres in the saddle and can turn up the heat as the pace setters start to call it a day. He had a tough trip in the Derby and with a little racing luck can motor past the leaders for Mott who wins 25% with grade stake runners. - Use with #10 Napoleon Solo and #9 - Iron Honor.

Saturday's card is packed with graded action — my picks above are the marquee races. For the comprehensive view on the rest of the undercard, download your WinningPonies E-Z Win® Forms for Friday's Black-Eyed Susan card and Saturday's Preakness card — they bring a clear-cut view on how every race will take shape.

Best of luck and see you in the winner's circle! - Ed.