Preakness Stakes 2026 Betting Bible

Last Updated: 5/16/26 at 2:32 pm PDT

Aaron Halterman

Crabcakes and Racing! That's What Maryland Does!

Jared Welch

On to Pimlico… uh, I mean Laurel Park!

Laurel Park

May 16, 2026 – 14 Races | |

Races & Bet Summaries

Race

Halterman Best Bet

Welch Best Bet

1 Allowance Optional Claiming $20 Win - #7 Epic Style $5 Exacta BOX - 2,7,8

Win	7Epic Style
Place	2Boujee Bubblez
Show	3Cairo Street
Next Best	8Gift of Gab

Best Bet: $20 Win - #7 Epic Style
More Suggested Bets: Exacta - 2,3,7 BOX
Trifecta - 2,3,7,8 BOX
Superfecta - 2,3,7,8 BOX
Daily Double - 2,7 / 3,4

Win	7Epic Style
Place	8Gift of Gab
Show	2Boujee Bubblez
Next Best	3Cairo Street

Best Bet: $5 Exacta BOX - 2,7,8
More Suggested Bets: Win - #7 Epic Style
Trifecta - 7,8/2,3,7,8/2,3,7,8
Superfecta - 7,8/2,3,7,8/2,3,7,8/ALL
Daily Double - 7 / 1,3

2 Allowance Optional Claiming $3 Daily Double - 3,4 / 3,5 $3 Daily Double - 1,3 / 3,5,6

Win	4Freeze the Fire
Place	3Wickeddivine
Show	10Dean Delivers
Next Best	9Uncle Cat

Best Bet: $3 Daily Double - 3,4 / 3,5
More Suggested Bets: Win - #4 Freeze the Fire
Exacta - 3,4,10 BOX
Trifecta - 3,4,9,10 BOX
Superfecta - 3,4,9,10 BOX

Win	3Wickeddivine
Place	1Blue Kingdom
Show	4Freeze the Fire
Next Best	7Band Camp

Best Bet: $3 Daily Double - 1,3 / 3,5,6
More Suggested Bets: Win - #3 Wickeddivine
Exacta - 1,3,4 BOX
Trifecta - 1,3/1,3,4,7/1,3,4,7
Superfecta - 1,3,4,7 BOX

3 Maiden Special Weight $2 Daily Double - 3,4,5,9 / 7 $1 Trifecta BOX - 3,5,6,10

Win	5Scanner
Place	3Naabaahii
Show	9Ocean Sound
Next Best	4Master Sommelier

Best Bet: $2 Daily Double - 3,4,5,9 / 7
More Suggested Bets: Win - #5 Scanner
Exacta - 3,5,9 BOX
Trifecta - 3,4,5,9 BOX
Superfecta - 3,4,5,9 BOX

Win	6Munny Problem
Place	3Naabaahii
Show	5Scanner
Next Best	10Drive by Johnny

Best Bet: $1 Trifecta BOX - 3,5,6,10
More Suggested Bets: Win - #6 Munny Problem
Exacta - 3,5,6 BOX
Superfecta - 3,5,6,10 BOX
Daily Double - 3,5,6 / 2,7

4 Skipat Stakes $20 Win - #7 Modo $15 Win - #2 Passage East

Win	7Modo
Place	2Passage East
Show	1Striker Has Dial
Next Best	4Benedetta

Best Bet: $20 Win - #7 Modo
More Suggested Bets: Exacta - 2,7/1,2,7
Trifecta - 2,7/1,2,4,7/1,2,4,7
Superfecta - 1,2,4,7 BOX
Daily Double - 2,7 / 4,12

Win	2Passage East
Place	7Modo
Show	3Kappa Kappa
Next Best	1Striker Has Dial

Best Bet: $15 Win - #2 Passage East
More Suggested Bets: Exacta - 2,7 BOX
Trifecta - 2,7/1,2,3,7/1,2,3,7
Superfecta - 1,2,3,7 BOX
Pick 3 - 2,7 / 7,10 / 4

5 Allowance NO BET $10 Win - #10 Buzzaway

Win	4Sassari
Place	12Sharmin
Show	3I love Giraffes
Next Best	7Mambo Queen

Best Bet: NO BET
More Suggested Bets: Exacta - 3,4,12 BOX
Trifecta - 3,4,7,12 BOX
Superfecta - 3,4,7,12 BOX
Daily Double - 4,12 / 3,4

Win	10Buzzaway
Place	7Mambo Queen
Show	4Sassari
Next Best	8So Darn Pretty

Best Bet: $10 Win - #10 Buzzaway
More Suggested Bets: Exacta - 4,7,10 BOX
Trifecta - 4,7,8,10 BOX
Superfecta - 4,7,8,10 BOX
Daily Double - 7,10 / 4,5

6 Sir Barton Stakes $20 Win - #4 Final Story $20 Win - #4 Final Story

Win	4Final Story
Place	3Let's Go Lando
Show	2Big Cuddle
Next Best	1Minorinconvenience

Best Bet: $20 Win - #4 Final Story
More Suggested Bets: Exacta - 3,4/2,3,4
Trifecta - 3,4/2,3,4/1,2,3,4
Superfecta - 4/2,3/2,3/1,2,3
Daily Double - 3,4 / 4,5

Win	4Final Story
Place	5Falcon Jet
Show	2Big Cuddle
Next Best	3Let's Go Lando

Best Bet: $20 Win - #4 Final Story
More Suggested Bets: Exacta - 4,5/2,4,5
Trifecta - 4,5/2,4,5/2,3,4,5
Superfecta - 4/2,5/2,5/2,3,5
Daily Double - 4 / 1,4,5

7 Chick Lang Stakes $20 Win - #4 Obliteration $20 Win - #4 Obliteration

Win	4Obliteration
Place	5Igniter
Show	1Fulmine
Next Best	6Shane's Wonder

Best Bet: $20 Win - #4 Obliteration
More Suggested Bets: Exacta - 4,5/1,4,5
Trifecta - 4,5/1,4,5,6/1,4,5,6
Superfecta - 4,5/1,4,5,6/1,4,5,6/1,4,5,6
Daily Double - 4,5 / 2,6

Win	4Obliteration
Place	5Igniter
Show	1Fulmine
Next Best	8Magic Wallet

Best Bet: $20 Win - #4 Obliteration
More Suggested Bets: Exacta - 4,5 BOX
Trifecta - 4,5/1,4,5,8/1,4,5,8
Superfecta - 1,4,5,8 BOX
Daily Double - 4 / 2,3

8 Maryland Sprint Stakes (G3) $3 Daily Double - 2,6 / 1,5 $2 Exacta BOX - 2,3,6

Win	2Faster Gator
Place	6Celtic Contender
Show	3Faust
Next Best	8Slam Notion

Best Bet: $3 Daily Double - 2,6 / 1,5
More Suggested Bets: Win - #2 Faster Gator
Exacta - 2,3,6 BOX
Trifecta - 2,3,6,8 BOX
Superfecta - 2,3,6,8 BOX

Win	3Faust
Place	2Faster Gator
Show	1Bring the Smoke
Next Best	6Celtic Contender

Best Bet: $2 Exacta BOX - 2,3,6
More Suggested Bets: Win - #3 Faust
Trifecta - 3/1,2,6/1,2,6
Superfecta - 1,2,3,6 BOX
Daily Double - 3 / 1,5

9 James W Murphy Stakes $2 Daily Double - 1,5 / 3,4 $15 Win - #1 My Favorite Bird

Win	5Proton
Place	1My Favorite Bird
Show	4Attfield
Next Best	6Turf Star

Best Bet: $2 Daily Double - 1,5 / 3,4
More Suggested Bets: Win - #5 Proton
Exacta - 1,4,5 BOX
Trifecta - 1,4,5,6 BOX
Superfecta - 1,4,5,6 BOX

Win	1My Favorite Bird
Place	5Proton
Show	4Attfield
Next Best	6Turf Star

Best Bet: $15 Win - #1 My Favorite Bird
More Suggested Bets: Exacta - 1,4,5 BOX
Trifecta - 1,5/1,4,5,6/1,4,5,6
Superfecta - 1,4,5,6 BOX
Daily Double - 1,5 / 3,4

10 Dinner Party Stakes (G3) $3 Daily Double - 3,4 / 3,7 $3 Daily Double – 3,4 / 1,3

Win	3Cruise the Nile
Place	4Fort Washington
Show	7Harrow
Next Best	5A Bourbon for Toby

Best Bet: $3 Daily Double - 3,4 / 3,7
More Suggested Bets: Win - #3 Cruise the Nile
Exacta - 3,4/3,4,7
Trifecta - 3,4/3,4,5,7/3,4,5,7
Superfecta - 3,4/3,4,5,7/3,4,5,7/3,4,5,7

Win	4Fort Washington
Place	3Cruise the Nile
Show	7Harrow
Next Best	5A Bourbon for Toby

Best Bet: $3 Daily Double – 3,4 / 1,3
More Suggested Bets: Win - #4 Fort Washington
Exacta - 3,4/3,4,7
Trifecta - 3,4/3,4,5,7/3,4,5,7
Superfecta - 3,4/3,4,5,7/3,4,5,7/3,4,5,7

11 Gallorette Stakes (G3) $20 Win - #3 Accent $5 Exacta BOX - 1,3

Win	3Accent
Place	7Child of the Moon
Show	8Awesome Czech
Next Best	5Austere

Best Bet: $20 Win - #3 Accent
More Suggested Bets: Exacta - 3,7,8 BOX
Trifecta - 3,7/3,5,7,8/3,5,7,8
Superfecta - 3,5,7,8 BOX
Daily Double - 3,7 / 3,4

Win	1Mahra's Love
Place	3Accent
Show	2Ribaltagaia
Next Best	7Child of the Moon

Best Bet: $5 Exacta BOX - 1,3
More Suggested Bets: Win - #1 Mahra’s Love
Trifecta - 1,3/1,2,3,7/1,2,3,7
Superfecta - 1,2,3,7 BOX
Pick 3 - 1,3 / 1,3,4 / 1,2,10,12

12 Jim McKay Turf Sprint $20 Win - #3 Jean Valjean $15 Win - #1 Run Curtis Run

Win	3Jean Valjean
Place	4Chasing Liberty
Show	1Run Curtis Run
Next Best	2Determined Kingdom

Best Bet: $20 Win - #3 Jean Valjean
More Suggested Bets: Exacta - 1,3,4 BOX
Trifecta - 1,2,3,4 BOX
Superfecta - 1,2,3,4 BOX
Daily Double - 3,4 / 5,12

Win	1Run Curtis Run
Place	3Jean Valjean
Show	4Chasing Liberty
Next Best	11Had to Have Him

Best Bet: $15 Win - #1 Run Curtis Run
More Suggested Bets: Exacta - 1,3,4 BOX
Trifecta - 1,3/1,3,4,11/1,3,4,11
Superfecta - 1,3,4,11 BOX
Daily Double - 1,3 / 1,2,10,12

13 Preakness Stakes (G1) $1 Exacta BOX 2,5,9,12 $2 Exacta - 1,12/1,2,10,12,14

Win	5Talkin
Place	12Incredibolt
Show	9Iron Honor
Next Best	2Ocelli

Best Bet: $1 Exacta BOX 2,5,9,12
More Suggested Bets: Win - #5 Talkin
Trifecta - 2,5,9,12 BOX
Superfecta - 2,5,9,12 BOX
Daily Double - 5,12 / 4,9

Win	12Incredibolt
Place	1Taj Mahal
Show	2Ocelli
Next Best	10Napoleon Solo

Best Bet: $2 Exacta - 1,12/1,2,10,12,14
More Suggested Bets: Exacta Savers - 10,14/1,2,5,12 | 5,7,10,11,14 BOX
Trifecta - 1,12/1,2,5,10,11,12,14/1,2,5,7,9,11,12 | 10,14/1,2,5,11,12/1,2,5,7,9,11,12
Superfecta - 1,12/1,2,5,10,11,12,14/1,2,5,7,9,11,12/1,2,5,7,9,11,12 | 10,14/1,2,5,11,12/1,2,5,7,9,11,12/1,2,5,7,9,11,12

5 out of 5

This year’s Preakness feels wide open, so I (Jared) built my tickets around #12 Incredibolt and #1 Taj Mahal while spreading deeper underneath with horses like #2 Ocelli, #5 Talkin, and #9 Iron Honor. I also respect the speed of #10 Napoleon Solo and #14 Pretty Boy Miah in case one of them gets brave on the front end and wires the field. Take the wagers you like best and adjust them to fit your own opinions and bankroll — that’s the key in a race like this.

14 Maiden Speical Weight NO BET $10 Win – #9 Mister Monday Nite

Win	9Mister Monday Nite
Place	4Bruno
Show	6Grant the Great
Next Best	3Love Yourself

Best Bet: NO BET
More Suggested Bets: Exacta - 4,6,9 BOX
Trifecta - 3,4,6,9 BOX
Superfecta - 3,4,6,9 BOX

Win	9Mister Monday Nite
Place	8Holy Moly Mitole
Show	1Funky See Funky
Next Best	6Grant the Great

Best Bet: $10 Win – #9 Mister Monday Nite
More Suggested Bets: Exacta - 8,9 BOX
Trifecta - 1,6,8,9 BOX
Superfecta - 1,6,8,9 BOX

Multi-Race Bets

Race	Bet Type	Bet Details	Bet Cost
1	$.50 Pick 5	2,7 / 3,4,10 / 3,4,5,9 / 2,7 / 3,4,7,12	$96
2	$.50 Pick 4	3,4,10 / 3,4,5,9 / 2,7 / 3,4,7,12	$48
3	$.50 Pick 5	3,4,5,9 / 1,2,7 / 3,4,7,12 / 3,4 / 4,5	$96
4	$.50 Pick 4	1,2,7 / 3,4,7,12 / 3,4 / 4,5	$24
5	$.50 Pick 5	3,4,7,12 / 3,4 / 4,5 / 2,3,6,8 / 1,4,5	$96
6	$.50 Pick 4	3,4 / 4,5 / 2,3,6,8 / 1,4,5	$24
7	$.50 Pick 5	4,5 / 2,3,6,8 / 1,4,5,6 / 3,4,7 / 3,7	$96
9	$.50 Pick 5	1,5 / 3,4 / 3,7,8 / 1,2,3,4 / 2,5,9,12	$96
10	$.50 Pick 4	3,4 / 3,7,8 / 1,2,3,4 / 2,5,9,12	$48
11	$.50 Pick 4	3,7,8 / 3,4 / 2,5,9,12 / 3,4,6,9	$48

Consensus Picks

Race	Aaron Halterman	Jared Welch	Mike "Papa Dude" Halterman	Vinny Blond	Jon White	AI	Best Speed	Best Long Shot	Consensus
1	Epic Style Boujee Bubblez Cairo Street Gift of Gab	Epic Style Gift of Gab Boujee Bubblez Cairo Street	Boujee Bubblez Epic Style Cairo Street Gift of Gab	Epic Style Gift of Gab Boujee Bubblez Cairo Street	Epic Style Boujee Bubblez Cairo Street Gift of Gab	Boujee Bubblez Epic Style Gift of Gab Cairo Street	Epic Style Secure's Hope Boujee Bubblez River Seine	Cairo Street Sheilahs Warcloud Precious Avary Sally's Gold	Epic Style Boujee Bubblez Cairo Street Gift of Gab
2	Freeze the Fire Wickeddivine Dean Delivers Uncle Cat	Wickeddivine Blue Kingdom Freeze the Fire Band Camp	Blue Kingdom Freeze the Fire Suremeanttoobe Grand Opening	Wickeddivine Blue Kingdom Suremeanttoobe Freeze the Fire	Blue Kingdom Freeze the Fire All the Hardways Wickeddivine	Freeze the Fire Blue Kingdom Suremeanttoobe Wickeddivine	Wickeddivine Blue Kingdom Grand Opening Band Camp	Dean Delivers Grand Opening Suremeanttoobe Wickeddivine	Blue Kingdom Wickeddivine Freeze the Fire Suremeanttoobe
3	Scanner Naabaahii Ocean Sound Master Sommelier	Munny Problem Naabaahii Scanner Drive by Johnny	Munny Problem Naabaahii Scanner Limo	Munny Problem Scanner Naabaahii Limo	Scanner Master Sommelier Naabaahii Limo	Naabaahii Master Sommelier Limo Munny Problem	Limo Master Sommelier Munny Problem Zencat	Master Sommelier Limo Ocean Sound Drive by Johnny	Naabaahii Munny Problem Scanner Master Sommelier
4	Modo Passage East Striker Has Dial Benedetta	Passage East Modo Kappa Kappa Striker Has Dial	Modo Passage East Kappa Kappa Complexity Jane	Modo Passage East Kappa Kappa Complexity Jane	Modo Kappa Kappa Passage East Striker Has Dial	Modo Passage East Striker Has Dial Benedetta	Modo Passage East Kappa Kappa Striker Has Dial	Passage East Benedetta Complexity Jane Sporting Lady	Modo Passage East Kappa Kappa Striker Has Dial
5	Sassari Sharmin I love Giraffes Mambo Queen	Buzzaway Mambo Queen Sassari So Darn Pretty	Sassari Mambo Queen I love Giraffes Nick's Notion	I love Giraffes Sassari So Darn Pretty Tideoftime	So Darn Pretty Sassari I love Giraffes Mambo Queen	Sassari Mambo Queen I love Giraffes Tideoftime	Sharmin I love Giraffes Nick's Notion Mambo Queen	Nick's Notion I love Giraffes So Darn Pretty Synergism	Sassari I love Giraffes Mambo Queen So Darn Pretty
6	Final Story Let's Go Lando Big Cuddle Minorinconvenience	Final Story Falcon Jet Big Cuddle Let's Go Lando	Final Story Reagan's Honor Big Cuddle Minorinconvenience	Final Story Reagan's Honor Minorinconvenience Let's Go Lando	Reagan's Honor Final Story Big Cuddle Let's Go Lando	Final Story Reagan's Honor Big Cuddle Let's Go Lando	Reagan's Honor Final Story Let's Go Lando Minorinconvenience	Big Cuddle Let's Go Lando Minorinconvenience Falcon Jet	Final Story Reagan's Honor Big Cuddle Let's Go Lando
7	Obliteration Igniter Fulmine Shane's Wonder	Obliteration Igniter Fulmine Magic Wallet	Obliteration Igniter Shane's Wonder Hollywood Import	Igniter Obliteration Magic Wallet Fulmine	Obliteration Igniter Shane's Wonder Buds Notion	Obliteration Igniter Fulmine Shane's Wonder	Obliteration Igniter Fulmine Shane's Wonder	Buds Notion Fulmine Hollywood Import Top Manipulator	Obliteration Igniter Fulmine Shane's Wonder
8	Faster Gator Celtic Contender Faust Slam Notion	Faust Faster Gator Bring the Smoke Celtic Contender	Faster Gator Haileysfirstnotion Floodlites Celtic Contender	Floodlites Faust Hymn Celtic Contender	Celtic Contender Haileysfirstnotion Faster Gator Bring the Smoke	Faster Gator Haileysfirstnotion Celtic Contender Floodlites	Celtic Contender Floodlites Haileysfirstnotion Faster Gator	Faust Celtic Contender Slam Notion Bring the Smoke	Faster Gator Celtic Contender Faust Haileysfirstnotion
9	Proton My Favorite Bird Attfield Turf Star	My Favorite Bird Proton Attfield Turf Star	Proton Attfield Thebabeslayer Turf Star	Zihnal Turf Star Proton My Favorite Bird	Proton Turf Star Attfield Zihnal	Proton Attfield Thebabeslayer My Favorite Bird	Zihnal Thebabeslayer Proton My Favorite Bird	Attfield Thebabeslayer Jessica's Eyes J Cody	Proton Attfield Zihnal Thebabeslayer
10	Cruise the Nile Fort Washington Harrow A Bourbon for Toby	Fort Washington Cruise the Nile Harrow A Bourbon for Toby	Dresden Row Cruise the Nile Fort Washington A Bourbon for Toby	Fort Washington Cruise the Nile Dresden Row A Bourbon for Toby	Dresden Row Cruise the Nile Fort Washington A Bourbon for Toby	Dresden Row Cruise the Nile Fort Washington Thundering	Cruise the Nile Fort Washington Dresden Row Harrow	A Bourbon for Toby Thundering What Say Thee Harrow	Cruise the Nile Fort Washington Dresden Row A Bourbon for Toby
11	Accent Child of the Moon Awesome Czech Austere	Mahra's Love Accent Ribaltagaia Child of the Moon	Accent Austere Awesome Czech Warming	Accent Austere Child of the Moon Ribaltagaia	Child of the Moon Accent Austere Ribaltagaia	Accent Austere Awesome Czech Ribaltagaia	Awesome Czech Child of the Moon Ribaltagaia Austere	Warming Ribaltagaia Mahra's Love Cheetah Lady	Accent Child of the Moon Austere Awesome Czech
12	Jean Valjean Chasing Liberty Run Curtis Run Determined Kingdom	Run Curtis Run Jean Valjean Chasing Liberty Had to Have Him	Chasing Liberty Outlaw Kid Jean Valjean Run Curtis Run	Outlaw Kid Determined Kingdom Jean Valjean Chasing Liberty	Chasing Liberty Isivunguvungu Run Curtis Run Jean Valjean	Chasing Liberty Jean Valjean Determined Kingdom Run Curtis Run	Run Curtis Run Jean Valjean Isivunguvungu Had to Have Him	Had to Have Him Determined Kingdom Isivunguvungu Fore Harp	Chasing Liberty Jean Valjean Run Curtis Run Determined Kingdom
13	Talkin Incredibolt Iron Honor Ocelli	Incredibolt Taj Mahal Ocelli Napoleon Solo	Napoleon Solo Taj Mahal Iron Honor Incredibolt	Ocelli Incredibolt Taj Mahal The Hell We Did	Talkin Incredibolt Ocelli The Hell We Did	Napoleon Solo Taj Mahal Ocelli Crupper	Iron Honor Napoleon Solo Ocelli Chip Honcho	Napoleon Solo Talkin The Hell We Did Great White	Napoleon Solo Incredibolt Ocelli Talkin
14	Mister Monday Nite Bruno Grant the Great Love Yourself	Mister Monday Nite Holy Moly Mitole Funky See Funky Grant the Great	Grant the Great Bruno Funky See Funky Love Yourself	Mister Monday Nite Grant the Great Bruno Funky See Funky	Grant the Great Holy Moly Mitole Bruno Funky See Funky	Grant the Great Bruno Love Yourself Funky See Funky	Bruno Love Yourself Ballinaclash Holy Moly Mitole	Love Yourself Mister Monday Nite Holy Moly Mitole Leo's Foo	Grant the Great Bruno Mister Monday Nite Love Yourself

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Preakness Stakes 2026 Betting Bible

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Consensus Picks

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