Expert Sets 2026 Preakness Stakes Picks

The 2026 Preakness Stakes field has a sharper outline now that veteran horse racing analyst Jody Demling has revealed his early picks.

Reports indicate Demling, noted for calling 11 Preakness winners, has centered his analysis on contenders including Iron Honor, Taj Mahal and Incredibolt. That track record gives his latest assessment extra weight as bettors and racing fans sort through odds and post positions ahead of one of the sport’s signature events.

The attention on post positions and morning odds reflects how quickly the Preakness conversation can shift. A favorable draw can sharpen a horse’s path, while a difficult gate can force a tougher trip from the start. In that environment, expert selections often influence how the wider market and casual fans read the field.

With post positions set and odds on the board, the debate around Incredibolt, Iron Honor and Taj Mahal has moved from hype to hard evaluation.

Demling’s inclusion of those three horses suggests a race built around both proven interest and late movement in the handicapping picture. The source material does not detail his full reasoning, but it makes clear that his picks have already become part of the central conversation around this year’s running. In a race where momentum can build fast, that kind of endorsement matters.

What comes next will determine whether these early picks hold or crack under fresh scrutiny. As race day approaches, bettors will watch for any shifts in odds, track conditions and final sentiment around the field. That matters because the Preakness rarely rewards guesswork for long; it rewards sharp reads, and the market now has a prominent one to measure against.