Top Pick: #1 Taj Mahal (5-1) - Undefeated Taj Mahal is right at home, based year-round at Laurel, where he is 3-for-3. The son of Derby winner Nyquist comes off a win at the Federico Tesio Stakes by 8 1/4 lengths at 1 1/8-miles. He's shown speed, stamina, and versatility, winning the Federico on a fast track and taking the Miracle Wood in muddy conditions.
2nd Pick: #6 Chip Honcho (5-1) - This 3-year-old colt bypassed the Kentucky Derby to target the Preakness, arriving fresh. Over the last three races, Chip Honcho finished behind Emerging Market, Paladin, and Golden Tempo, three talented horses who won't be in this one. Chip Honcho (6-to-1) was second to favored Paladin at the Risen Star Stakes at 1 3/16-miles, and just ahead of 3-to-1 Golden Tempo. He also won the 2025 Gun Runner Stakes, sitting second for much of the race, before outrunning favored Liberty National. Trainer Steven Asmussen said this week, "I really want to avoid an outside draw," for the Preakness and got it. Kentucky Derby-winning jockey José Ortiz will ride.
3rd Pick: #9 Iron Honor (9-2) - Flavien Prat will ride this Chad Brown horse, another son of Nyquist. Iron Honor was favored at the Wood Memorial Stakes, but struggled after getting bumped hard going into the first turn. Brown will remove blinkers for this one.