Welcome to 2026 Triple Crown Prospect Profiles – updated after the first jewel of the Triple Crown from the previous title of Kentucky Derby Prospect Profiles – where we’ll take a look each week at a recent winner on the Triple Crown trail.

This week’s profile is Napoleon Solo, the 1 ¼-length winner of the 1 3/16-mile Preakness Stakes, the second jewel of U.S. Thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown May 16 at Laurel Park.

Racing Résumé: Napoleon Solo was flawless at age 2. He dominated his debut Aug. 8, 2025, at Saratoga Race Course and then romped by 6 ½ lengths when leading from start to finish in the Grade 1 Champagnes Stakes Oct. 4. Owner Al Gold and trainer Chad Summers next opted to focus on the Liam’s Map colt’s 3-year-old season rather than continue on to the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by TAA Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

Named after a fictional spy character from a 1960s TV show that was rebooted as a movie in 2015, Napoleon Solo went undercover, so to speak, in his first two starts as a 3-year-old. Simply put, things did not go as planned. He finished a nonthreatening fifth, beaten by 11 ¾ lengths, in the Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes Feb. 28 at Gulfstream Park before running fifth again in the Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by Resorts World Casino April 4 at Aqueduct.

Summers explained before the Preakness that Napoleon Solo had been dealing with a bruised heel. He thought that contributed to the subpar efforts in his first two races and expected an improved effort May 16 at Laurel. Napoleon Solo did not disappoint. He pressed pacesetter Taj Mahal from second through three-quarters of a mile, opened up a 1 ½-length lead in early stretch, and powered to a clear victory at 7.90-1 odds under Paco Lopez. He completed the final quarter-mile in :26.88 and the final furlong in :13.51 while covering the 1 3/16 miles in 1:58.69 for his third win in five races and first of the year.

Speed Figures: Napoleon Solo’s Equibase Speed Figures for his first two starts of the year were less than what he earned in his two races as a 2-year-old, entering the Preakness with line 91-99-81-85. His career-top was a 99 for the Champagne Stakes. Napoleon Solo earned a 97 Equibase figure for the Preakness win, indicating he returned to top form after the slow start. The 96 Beyer Speed Figure earned for the Preakness was one point better than his previous best, a 95 for the Champagne, so both speed figure makers rated the race as close to, or better than, Napoleon Solo’s career best. 

Running Style: Napoleon Solo has either set the pace or raced just off the pace in his five starts, running within two lengths of the lead after the opening quarter-mile in each of his five races. His tactical speed is a valuable asset that allows him to settle into a good spot early in his races or set the tempo if no other horse wants to take the lead.

Pedigree Notes: Napoleon Solo was a $40,000 purchase at the 2024 Keeneland September yearling sale by Summers on behalf of Al Gold’s Gold Square LLC. He is from the eighth crop of 2015 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Liam’s Map, who also has sired Grade 1 winners Burnham Square, Deterministic, Colonel Liam, Juju’s Map, Wicked Whisper, and Basin. Napoleon Solo’s dam (mother), Atomic Blonde, by Scat Daddy, was a stakes winner on turf at 7 ½ furlongs and stakes-placed at 1 1/16 miles.

Second-Half Potential: Summers said Napoleon Solo will not compete June 6 in the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets at Saratoga Race Course. The target will be the $1 million NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes July 18 at Monmouth Park.

“We’re going to point to the Haskell,” Summers said. “How we get to the Haskell, we'll find out.”

The 1 1/8-mile Haskell should be well within Napoleon Solo’s scope after winning at 1 3/16 miles on a surface that, like Monmouth Park, seemed to favor early speed. Many of the best 3-year-olds of 2026 are closers or off-the-pace runners, so Napoleon Solo’s running style could be a big benefit moving forward.

Given some of the minor injuries Napoleon Solo has dealt with this season, it’s also very possible (and perhaps very likely) that he could improve off his Preakness win provided he comes out of the middle jewel of the Triple Crown healthy.

My big concern is that he did not finish fast in the Preakness. Granted, Napoleon Solo raced close to a swift opening half-mile in :46.66 at Laurel, but he will need to run faster than :26.88 for his final quarter-mile when facing improved competition in elite races later this summer.