Post positions have been drawn and morning-line odds assigned for a very competitive 151^st Preakness Stakes May 16 at Laurel Park. The $2 million Preakness is set to run at 7:01 p.m. ET and will be broadcast nationwide on NBC and streamed on Peacock.

Read on for Preakness Stakes trifecta betting strategies from the team at America’s Best Racing (use ABR’s handy Gambling Calculator Presented by NYRA Bets to construct your tickets):

Mike Curry:

Ocelli (Eclipse Sportswire)

There is so much speed in the 2026 Preakness that I struggle to envision a pacesetter/front-runner holding on to win the 1 3/16-mile race. I’ll favor runners rallying from off the pace for the top spot using Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve third-place finisher #2 Ocelli, Stonestreet Lexington Stakes runner-up #7 The Hell We Did, and Virginia Derby Presented by New Kent County winner #12 Incredibolt. Ocelli ran so well against a better field in the Derby that I’ll give him a shot to earn his first win here from off the pace. I really liked The Hell We Did’s first try stretching out in distance in the Lexington and think he’s eligible to improve. Incredibolt is my top win pick coming off a troubled sixth in the Derby.

I can’t dismiss unbeaten local stakes winner #1 Taj Mahal and trainer Chad Brown has won this race twice with horses who skipped the Derby, so I expect Gotham Stakes winner #9 Iron Honor to run well.  

Mike Curry’s Preakness Trifecta ($36 budget):

$1 trifecta: 2,7,12 with 1,2,7,9,12 with 1,2,7,9,12 ($36)

Noel Michaels:

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When you size up the field for the 2026 Preakness Stakes based on their best efforts in relevant two-turn dirt stakes races, four horses stand out above the rest of the field and that’s where I will concentrate my Preakness wagers. The clear horse to beat is #12 Incredibolt, a two-time graded stakes winner in dirt routes including the Grade 3 Virginia Derby. He exits a respectable sixth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby and should sit an ideal stalking trip behind plenty of speed horses who should set the race up for a horse from a bit (but not too far) off the pace. #6 Chip Honcho was pointed to the Preakness instead of the Kentucky Derby and his stock went up a lot when Golden Tempo won the Derby because Chip Honcho raced competitively against the Derby winner this winter at Fair Grounds. Chip Honcho won the Gun Runner Stakes and later finished ahead of Golden Tempo in the Grade 2 Fasig-Tipton Risen Star Stakes. If he repeats that career-best effort he could prove tough to beat.

#4 Robusta also fits well against this field based on his best career effort which came when second by a head to Potente in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes Presented by DK Horse. He could add value to winning trifecta tickets at 30-1 morning-line odds. #2 Ocelli was the surprise horse in the Kentucky Derby when rallying to finish third at 70.50-1 odds. He’s still a maiden and I suspect he will continue to be a maiden after the running of the Preakness, but once again he could rally for a spot in the money. Ocelli finished 6 ¾ lengths behind Incredibolt when the pair previously met in the Virginia Derby.

Noel Michaels’ Preakness Trifecta ($54 budget):

$5 trifecta: 12 with 2,4,6 with 2,4,6 ($30)

$1 trifecta box: 2,4,6,12 ($24)

Patrick Reed:

Chip Honcho (Eclipse Sportswire)

Like many other horseplayers, I immediately rated #12 Incredibolt as one of the most likely winners of Saturday’s Preakness Stakes after his connections decided to enter him in the race May 11. He finished very well when sixth in the Kentucky Derby despite being bumped by runner-up Renegade in the stretch, and the speedy Preakness pace scenario (on paper, of course) seems to set things up for him quite well. The other contender I think is sitting on a big effort is #6 Chip Honcho, who comes out of the same Fair Grounds prep race series that produced Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo. Chip Honcho qualified for the May 2 run for the roses, but Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen seemed to acknowledge that the Kentucky Derby’s mile-and-a-quarter distance was too long for Chip Honcho and in his comments Derby week appeared confident that his charge would benefit from two weeks’ more rest and be ready to fire in the Preakness. Getting Derby-winning rider Jose Ortiz to pick up the mount just adds to the appeal.

I’ll key Chip Honcho and Incredibolt atop a 50-cent trifecta, adding #2 Ocelli, #7 The Hell We Did, and #10 Napoleon Solo with those two in second and then adding four more horses, #1 Taj Mahal, #8 Bull by the Horns, #9 Iron Honor, and #11 Corona de Oro in the mix in third. Then I’ll flip the first and second positions for another 50-center, and finish up with a $1 trifecta keying Chip Honcho and Napoleon Solo in first and second above the other horses.

Patrick Reed’s Preakness Trifecta ($70 budget):

50-cent trifecta: 6,12 with 2,6,7,10,12 with 1,2,6,7,8,9,10,11,12 ($28)

50-cent trifecta: 2,6,7,10,12 with 6,12 with 1,2,6,7,8,9,10,11,12 ($28)

$1 trifecta: 6,12 with 6,12 with 1,2,7,8,9,10,11 ($14)

Dan Tordjman:

The Hell We Did (Eclipse Sportswire)

This year's Preakness field is large and loaded with early speed. #1 Taj Mahal, #4 Robusta, #6 Chip Honcho, #10 Napoleon Solo, #11 Corona de Oro, and #14 Pretty Boy Miah have all shown a tendency to go to the front or press the pace. If even two or three of them get sent early, the pace figures to be brutal, and that’s a scenario that favors a stalker or closer. Given the circumstances and his progression, #7 The Hell We Did is the horse I like best in this race. He showed real grit in the Stonestreet Lexington Stakes, getting stuck closer to the lead than ideal before grinding past the pacesetter to finish second. His connections aren't as well-known as others in the field, which should mean bigger odds, and while his pedigree doesn't jump off the page, he is related to some quality distance runners including Señor Buscador.

For the trifecta – which I totally botched in the Derby despite making the case for Golden Tempo and liking Renegade – I'd look at #1Taj Mahal and #9 Iron Honor as the logical other players in the win spot. Taj Mahal needs to show another dimension and rate off the pace if others vie for it early, but he's clearly talented. Iron Honor should benefit from the pace scenario outlined above. Other closers in the mix include #2 Ocelli, #12 Incredibolt, and #13 Great White, with #5 Talkin and #8 Bull by the Horns as possible wildcards.

Dan Tordjman’s Preakness Trifecta ($72 budget):

Main Bet

$1 trifecta: 1,7,9 with 1,7,9 with 1,2,5,7,8,9,12,13 ($36)

Double Down on #7

$1 trifecta: 7 with 1,9,12 with 1,2,5,8,9,12,13 ($18)

Saver Bet 

$1 trifecta: 2,12 with 2,7,9,12 with 1,2,7,9,12 ($18)