Napoleon Solo Wins 2026 Preakness Stakes at Laurel Park in Historic Race

Napoleon Solo completed a remarkable turnaround in 2026, winning the 151st Preakness Stakes on Saturday at Laurel Park by 1 1/4 lengths over Iron Honor. The colt had finished fifth in each of his two prior starts this year and entered as one of many question marks in a wide-open field after Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo was held out. Trainer Chad Summers and jockey Paco Lopez each earned their first Preakness victories.

The race was historically significant beyond its result. Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore is currently being rebuilt, forcing the Preakness to relocate to Laurel Park for 2026. It was the first time in the race’s history that it was held anywhere other than Pimlico, adding an unusual backdrop to what became a compelling renewal.

Race Recap and Betting Results

Taj Mahal, the 9-2 morning-line choice, set the pace and led into the stretch, but Napoleon Solo had been patient under Lopez before sweeping to the lead around the final turn. Iron Honor, trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Flavien Prat, finished 1 1/4 lengths behind in second. Steve Asmussen’s Chip Honcho ran on late for third under Jose Ortiz, who had been aboard Golden Tempo at Churchill Downs two weeks earlier.

Napoleon Solo went off at 7-1, paying $17.80 on a $2 win ticket. Iron Honor had been the morning-line favorite at 9-2 but drifted to 8-1 by post time. The final time of 1:58.69 was the slowest Preakness in 75 years. Pari-mutuel handle at Laurel Park was down just 1.2 percent compared to recent Pimlico editions, suggesting the fan base adapted well to the venue change.

Napoleon Solo’s Journey to Victory

The 3-year-old son of Liam’s Map had been considered one of the top sophomores in the nation after a 6 1/2-length victory in the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes at Aqueduct last fall. The connections bypassed the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and aimed at the Kentucky Derby, but consecutive fifth-place finishes in the Fountain of Youth and Wood Memorial Stakes raised questions. A heel bruise forced Napoleon Solo to enter his Wood Memorial prep without a proper work, further complicating the Derby preparation. He wound up as an alternate who never drew in.

Rather than forcing the issue, owner Al Gold and Summers pivoted to the Preakness. “I told a lot of people that I thought this was going to be the best performance of his life,” Summers said. “Nothing went right to start his 3-year-old year. We started off a little bit behind the eight ball.” Gold echoed the sentiment, noting the strong six-year partnership he and Summers have developed together.

Triple Crown and What Comes Next

With Golden Tempo winning the Kentucky Derby and Napoleon Solo taking the Preakness, the Triple Crown is off the table for 2026. The Belmont Stakes, the final leg of the series, is scheduled for later this summer, and Napoleon Solo could be a viable candidate depending on decisions made in the coming weeks.

From a wagering standpoint, the Preakness continues to generate strong interest as part of the spring horse racing calendar. Bettors who follow Maryland sports betting had a full card of stakes races to wager on at Laurel, including the Grade 3 Maryland Sprint and the Gallorette Stakes. The temporary move to Laurel Park appears to have maintained much of the event’s commercial momentum heading into the Pimlico rebuild.