The 2026 Preakness Stakes post positions have been set, and the second jewel of the Triple Crown could be a bit more unpredictable at the break than usual with 14 Preakness Stakes horses entered.
Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo is out, but three Derby also-rans are part of the Preakness Stakes odds. However, "new shooter" Iron Honor is favored from Post No. 9.
The Preakness Stakes will be held at Laurel Park on Saturday, May 16.
2026 Preakness Stakes post positions and odds
Below are the results of the Preakness post position draw held on Monday, May 11.
| Cloth # | Post Position | Horse | Trainer / Jockey | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Taj Mahal | Brittany Russell / Sheldon Russell | 5/1 |
| 2 | 2 | Ocelli | D. Whitworth Beckman / Tyler Gaffalione | 6/1 |
| 3 | 3 | Crupper | Donnie K. Von Hemel / Junior Alvarado | 30/1 |
| 4 | 4 | Robusta | Doug O'Neill / Rafael Bejarano | 30/1 |
| 5 | 5 | Talkin | Danny Gargan / Irad Ortiz, Jr. | 20/1 |
| 6 | 6 | Chip Honcho | Steve Asmussen / Jose Ortiz | 5/1 |
| 7 | 7 | The Hell We Did | Todd Fincher / Luis Saez | 15/1 |
| 8 | 8 | Bull By The Horns | Saffie Joseph Jr. / Micah Husbands | 30/1 |
| 9 | 9 | Iron Honor | Chad Brown / Flavien Prat | 9/2 |
| 10 | 10 | Napoleon Solo | Chad Summers / Paco Lopez | 8/1 |
| 11 | 11 | Corona de Oro | Dallas Stewart / John Velazquez | 30/1 |
| 12 | 12 | Incredibolt | Riley Mott / Jaime Torres | 5/1 |
| 13 | 13 | Great White | John Ennis / Alex Achard | 15/1 |
| 14 | 14 | Pretty Boy Miah | Jeremiah Englehart / Ricardo Santana, Jr. | 15/1 |
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Preakness Stakes wins by post position
Where Preakness Stakes horses start can either give them an advantage or a disadvantage right out of the gate. Here are the post positions that claim the most Preakness Stakes titles since the introduction of the starting gate in 1930.
Post No. 14 has never won the Preakness Stakes.
| Post Position | Wins |
|---|---|
| 1 | 13 |
| 2 | 13 |
| 3 | 12 |
| 4 | 14 |
| 5 | 12 |
| 6 | 17 |
| 7 | 14 |
| 8 | 10 |
| 9 | 4 |
| 10 | 2 |
| 11 | 2 |
| 12 | 3 |
| 13 | 1 |
| 14 | 0 |
Best post position at the Preakness Stakes
In terms of producing Preakness Stakes winners as, the best post position at the is gate No. 6. This middle spot boasts 17 Preakness winners.
Worst post position at the Preakness Stakes
Gate No. 14 is the worst post position in the Preakness and has yet to produce a champ.
How is post position determined at the Preakness Stakes?
The post positions for the Preakness Stakes are determined through a random draw conducted by race officials. The draw typically takes place on the Monday of race week.
During the draw, numbered pills or balls, each representing a specific post position, are placed in a randomizer machine. The machine is then activated, and the pills are mixed thoroughly to ensure a fair selection. One by one, the pills are drawn from the machine, and the corresponding post positions are assigned to the participating horses in the order they are drawn.
The post position assigned to each horse is significant because it determines the starting position of the horse in the race. The post positions are numbered from 1 to 14, with the inside positions (closer to the rail) generally considered advantageous due to the shorter distance they have to cover to reach the first turn. However, track conditions, running style of the horse, and other factors can influence the significance of post positions in different races.
