Napoleon Solo secured victory in the 151st Preakness Stakes on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at Laurel Park in Maryland. The 7-1 underdog held off Iron Honor by 1 1/4 lengths, marking his first win of the year after two fifth-place finishes earlier in the season. Taj Mahal, the early favorite at 9-2, led for much of the race but faded in the stretch. Chip Honcho finished third.
The race, typically held at Pimlico Race Course, was moved to Laurel Park due to renovations at the traditional venue. Attendance was capped at 4,800, creating a subdued atmosphere compared to previous years. The $2 million purse was claimed by trainer Chad Summers and jockey Paco Lopez, both earning their first Preakness victory.
Napoleon Solo, who won his first two starts by wide margins in 2025, had struggled in recent races, including fifth-place finishes in the Fountain of Youth and Wood Memorial. Iron Honor, another contender, also finished fifth in the Wood Memorial. Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo skipped the Preakness, continuing a recent trend of Derby winners bypassing the second Triple Crown race.
The Preakness featured the largest field in 15 years, with 14 horses competing. The race paid out $17.80 for a $2 win bet on Napoleon Solo. A $1 exacta paid $53.60, while a $1 trifecta brought in $597.10. A $1 superfecta paid $12,015.70, and a 20-cent Pick 6 paid $33,842.34.
Trainer Brittany Russell's Taj Mahal, unbeaten before the Preakness, could not hold off Napoleon Solo in the stretch. Iron Honor, the morning line favorite at 9-2, finished second at 8-1 odds. Ocelli, one of three horses to run in both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, finished fourth.
The Preakness was held without a Triple Crown contender for the second consecutive year. Golden Tempo's trainer, Cherie DeVaux, opted to give the colt additional rest after his Derby win.