Taj Mahal draws rail, opens at 5-1 for Preakness 2026 Horses
Taj Mahal drew the rail and opened at 5-1 for the Preakness 2026 horses after post positions were drawn Monday afternoon at Laurel Park. Brittany Russell’s colt is one of 14 starters, and he goes into Saturday’s race as the co-second choice on the morning line behind Iron Honor.
Taj Mahal at Laurel Park
The draw sent Taj Mahal to the inside post for a track where he has never lost. He is 3 for 3 at Laurel Park, including an 8 1/4-length win in the Federico Tesio on April 18 that earned a 92 Beyer Speed Figure.
That number stands out in a field where Chip Honcho is the only other Preakness horse with a Beyer number above 90 in a route race. Taj Mahal also arrives as an undefeated, untested son of Nyquist, with Sheldon Russell booked to ride him from the rail.
Brittany Russell’s path
Russell got Taj Mahal last fall after he was not progressing for Bob Baffert, and the horse has moved forward since the change. He won a maiden race on Feb. 6, then came back 15 days later to take a minor stakes race before the long gap to the Federico Tesio.
Russell is trying to become the second woman trainer to win a Triple Crown race. Cherie DeVaux already became the first woman to train a Kentucky Derby winner with Golden Tempo, while Jena Antonucci won the Belmont three years ago with Arcangelo.
Rail draw, wider field
Sheldon Russell said Taj Mahal’s rail post is a test, but not a dead end. “To be fair, he’s a good gate horse,” he said. “He broke so sharp last time.”
That gives him a chance to establish position early in a 14-horse field, though Russell also noted, “We’ve just got to hold that spot until we get to the bend, but we’ve got a longer run this time.” The Preakness is being run at Laurel Park temporarily while Pimlico is rebuilt, and Laurel Park has never hosted the race before.
Taj Mahal was made the co-second choice at 5-1, while Iron Honor opened as the lukewarm 9-2 favorite. The rail draw gives Russell a clear plan, and the result will tell whether Laurel Park’s perfect run for Taj Mahal can carry into a Triple Crown race.
