The 2026 Preakness Stakes came into focus Saturday as veteran handicapper Jody Demling released his latest picks for the race at Laurel Park.

Demling carries unusual weight in this conversation. Reports indicate he has correctly called 11 Preakness winners, a record that gives his selections far more attention than the usual pre-race chatter. His latest analysis lands as bettors and casual fans alike search for clues in a field that now looks different from what many expected.

Key Facts

  • The 2026 Preakness Stakes is set for Saturday, May 16.
  • The race will take place at Laurel Park.
  • Jody Demling has reportedly picked 11 Preakness winners.
  • Golden Tempo is not in the field.

The biggest immediate shift centers on Golden Tempo, who will not run in this year's field. That absence strips out one of the names tied to early discussion and forces a reset around the remaining contenders, their odds, and the likely shape of the race. In an event where pace, position, and timing often decide everything, even one missing horse can alter how the field stacks up.

Demling's record gives his 2026 Preakness picks outsized influence at the exact moment bettors look for a clear read on a changing field.

The signal here goes beyond one expert's card. The Preakness often compresses a full season's worth of hype into a single afternoon, and every new projection can push the market, sharpen public expectations, and reshape the conversation around the sport's biggest spring races. Sources suggest this year's attention will stay fixed on how the odds respond and whether Demling's history of success holds up again under fresh conditions.

What happens next matters because the final lead-up to post time tends to bring the most meaningful movement: late money, final assessments, and a clearer sense of who actually fits this race. For fans, the question now is not just who Demling likes, but whether the field that remains at Laurel Park can confirm his read when the gates open on May 16.