Friday May 15, 2026

BLACK-EYED SUSAN $300,000 1 1/8 miles

Saturday May 16, 2026

PREAKNESS CLI $2,000,000 1 3/16 miles

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Post Position	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	M/L Odds	Phil’s Odds
1	Taj Mahal	Brittany T Russell	Sheldon Russell	5-1	6.54
2	Ocelli	D. Whitworth Beckman	Tyler Gaffalione	6-1	9.15
3	Crupper	Donnie K Von Hemel	Junior Alvarado	30-1	31.84
4	Robusta	Doug F. O’Neil	Rafael Bejarano	30-1	31.84
5	Talkin	Danny Gargan	Irad Ortiz Jr.	20-1	16.15
6	Chip Honcho	Steven M. Asmussen	Jose Ortiz	5-1	6.23
7	The Hell We Did	Todd Fincher	Luis Saez	15-1	18.04
8	Bull By The Horns	Saffie A Joseph Jr.	Micah Husbands	30-1	33.15
9	Iron Honor	Chad C Brown	Flavien Prat	9-2	4.15
10	Napoleon Solo	Chad Summers	Paco Lopez	8-1	7.65
11	Corona de Oro	Dallas Stewart	John Velazquez	30-1	21.52
12	Incredibolt	Riley Mott	Jaime Torres	12-1	5.95
13	Great White	John Ennis	Alex Achard	15-1	16.15
14	Pretty Boy Miah	Jeremiah C Englehart	Ricardo Santana Jr.	30-1	33.15

 

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Paulick Report – Ray Paulick – View From The Eighth Pole: Maryland Strong

Bloodhorse – Bob Ehalt – Knauf, New MJC Look Forward to Preakness Future

The preferred spacing is 1) early May, 2) early June, 3) July 4th, regardless of which race/which city, but the future of our sport is more important than a racetrack’s territorial claim.

TDN – Ric Waldman –  Letter to the Editor: Future of Our Sport is More Important than a Racetrack’s Territorial Claim

Phil has a question:

With the North American thoroughbred foal crop dropping from over 30,000 to around 20,000 how can the tracks expect to fill the races they have for 3 year olds.

Will the 2027 Triple Crown dates be: Kentucky Derby – May 1, 2027, Belmont June 5, 2027 Preakness July 3, 2027.

Treasurer Dereck Davis (D) told Maryland Matters that ongoing expenses related to a “flagging” horse racing industry may have to come to an end.

“At some point …we have to get it [the horseracing industry] to sink or swim,” he said. “Can it survive? We can’t keep pouring massive amounts of dollars into this industry for the third weekend in May. And I know, I know the conversations about year-round, but that’s not really working, which is why we’re here.”

TDN – Bill Finley – Report: Legislative Panel to Take a Second Look at Purchase of Laurel

Front Office Sports – Ben Horney – Kentucky Derby Owner Expands Triple Crown Footprint With Preakness IP Deal

Pressbox – Bill Ordine – The Future Of The Preakness

Preakness Media Future Likely Coming With Historic Shift In Triple Crown Calendar – Leading Trainers Brad Cox Chad Brown Mark Glatt Weigh In On Changing Triple Crown Dates

Churchill Downs Inc. Purchases Preakness Stakes – With Preakness Purchase, CDI Hopes to Grow Event 

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Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting

Most people wouldn’t know music if it came up and bit them on the ass. 

Frank Zappa

TDN – Who Do You Like? Carasso, Finley and Sherack Handicap the Preakness

Bloodhorse – J. Keeler Johnson’s Preakness Stakes 151 Selections

Most people, in fact, will not take the trouble in finding out the truth, but are much more inclined to accept the first story they hear.

Thucydides

The Haiku Handicapper

To read previous editions of The Haiku Handicapper, click here.

#1 – Taj Mahal
Last Tes/Preak double?
Deputed Testamony
Back in ’83

#2 – Ocelli
Where did THAT come from?
A risk to be overbet
But he’s learning fast

#3 – Crupper
Oaklawn auto-bid
Best shot’s to send from the gate
Others go faster

#4 – Robusta
Like him, for instance
Retreats with added distance
Wait for a mile race

#5 – Talkin
His speed figs stack up
Margins of defeat, less so
Hard to get a read

#6 – Chip Honcho
Asmussen pushed his
Chips to the middle this hand
Now, the cards will fall

#7 – The Hell We Did
Speedy Southwest horse
Proved he could play a road game
The spotlight brightens

#8 – Bull By the Horns
He’ll start at the back
And he’ll kick late or he won’t
My guess? Likely won’t

An all-time weak Wood
But this is Chad’s go-to play
You won’t like his price

#10 – Napoleon Solo
You were planning out
Your Halloween costume the
Last time this horse won

#11 – Corona de Oro
Nearly crashed Derby
Dallas breaks Preakness bets, too
Toss at your own risk

#12 – Incredibolt
Gets a stat boost for
The element of surprise
It could be enough

#13 – Great White
Derby frustration
Gives us a fresh horse to run
In a kinder spot

#14 – Pretty Boy Miah
Looks like he’s one-turn
But this is the right field to
See if he’s got more

Prediction
Last in, first across
Incredibolt is no shock
Then six, two, thirteen

The Athletic – Teresa Genaro – Analyzing the 2026 Preakness field: Favorites, contenders and long shots

Dedicated To The One I Love

Every revolution evaporates and leaves behind only the slime of a new bureaucracy.

Franz Kafka

Bloodhorse – Crupper a ‘Lottery Ticket’ for Namesake in Preakness

Bloodhorse – Sean Collins – Preakness Preview: Taj Mahal Holds Home Field Advantage

ESPN – Katherine Terrell – The new venue, the front-runners and one reason to bet every horse in the 2026 Preakness Stakes

Bloodhorse – Sean Collins – Ocelli a Winner in Everything but Stats

Bloodhorse – Frank Angst – The Road: Qualifying Races Put Horses on Preakness Path

Bloodhorse – Joe Perez – Brant Moving Majority of His Horses From Brown Stable

Front Office Sports – Eric Fisher – Super Bowl LXI Gets the Star Treatment at Disney Upfronts

Phil has a question:

Did you know that the CFL training camps are about to open.

America’s Best Racing – Big-Race Showdown: Expert Selections for Black-Eyed Susan, Preakness Stakes

TDN – T.D. Thornton – TDN Preakness Preview: And The Winner Is…

America’s Best Racing – Andrew Champagne – Live Longshots and Value Plays for Preakness Weekend

Bloodhorse – J. Keeler Johnson – Odds and Trends: Best Approaches for Preakness, Belmont

Southern Living – Kaitlyn Yarborough – What Is A Black-Eyed Susan Cocktail?

America’s Best Racing – Noel Michaels – Handicapping Laurel Park: Key Trends to Know … Just in Time for the Preakness

Radioactive

Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.

Napoleon Bonaparte

Bloodhorse – Frank Angst – Hopes for Great White Heard at Alibi Breakfast

– and the only thing worse than scraping the residue of burnt eggs from a pan is scraping it from an overhyped, expensive pan.

Garden and Gun – Elizabeth Florio – How to Cook a Perfect Egg in a Cast-Iron Skillet

DRF  David Grening – Brant moving horses from Brown to other trainers

Bloodhorse – Olivia Newman – Ocelli: The $12K Maiden Seeking Preakness Glory

Border Song

I think the big mistake in schools is trying to teach children anything, and by using fear as the basic motivation. Fear of getting failing grades, fear of not staying with your class, etc. Interest can produce learning on a scale compared to fear as a nuclear explosion to a firecracker. 

Stanley Kubrick

Paulick Report – Joe Nevills – How The Hell Did Preakness Contender The Hell We Did Get His Name?

DRF – David Grening – Preakness may not be flashy, but large field doesn’t lack intrigue

DRF – David Grening – Preakness 2026: New Mexico stalwart Fincher gets first taste of Triple Crown

Horse Race Insider – John Pricci – YOU THOUGHT THE DERBY & OAKS WERE DIFFICULT–WAIT’IL YOU SEE SECOND JEWEL PPs

Bloodhorse – Frank Angst – Breeder Vegso Hopes for Another Winning Taj Mahal Trip

To read previous editions of The Haiku Handicapper, click here.

The Haiku Handicapper – Joe Nevills

Ramble On

Never tell me the odds!

Han Solo

Secretariat – Steve Haskin – Last In The Derby First In My Heart

Bloodhorse – Bob Ehalt – Brown Follows Successful Path to Preakness

Bloodhorse – Jennifer Kelly – Trainer Russell Goes for Preakness First with Taj Mahal

Bloodhorse – Bob Ehalt – Corona de Oro Aims to Take Big Step in Preakness

Bloodhorse – Summers Hopes Napoleon Solo’s Luck Changes in Preakness

This Is Horse Racing – Ryan Clancy – Sticking with Corbin, right to the Derby

Bloodhorse – Sean Collins – Ortiz Continues Triple Crown Quest With Chip Honcho

With A Little Help From My Friends

Bureaucracy is a giant mechanism operated by pygmies.

Honore de Balzac

Phil has a question:

Do Clark Kent, the Undertaker, tarPaulin, 007 and the other far too many window gazing minions over at Horse Racing Alberta understand that they are the epitome of Balzac’s quote and they don’t even have to be at Century Downs.

TDN – Chris McGrath – Breeding Digest: Equity Grows On Foundations Of Stone

DRF – Patrick Moquin – Preakness 2026: Shift to Laurel could favor local riders

America’s Best Racing – Patrick Reed – 2026 Preakness Stakes Cheat Sheet

Show Me How To Live

It is hard to imagine a more stupid or more dangerous way of making decisions than by putting those decisions in the hands of people who pay no price for being wrong.

Thomas Sowell

Bloodhorse – Bob Ehalt – Quiet Day of Training for Preakness Entrants

Tiny Dancer

People who enjoy meetings should not be in charge of anything. 

Thomas Sowell

Paulick Report – Lillian Davis – Ortiz Brothers Honored By Governor Of Puerto Rico For Historic Kentucky Derby Finish

America

DRF – Patrick Moquin – Preakness 2026: Russells hope to buck Tesio trend with Taj Mahal

Paulick Report – Preakness Update: Brittany Russell Looks To Make Triple Crown History At Laurel

DRF – David Grening – Preakness 2026: While still a maiden, Ocelli’s Derby run proved he belongs

America’s Best Racing – J. Keeler Johnson – Betting Closers in a Speed-Packed 2026 Preakness Stakes

Wide World Of Sports

Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional W.W.F. wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they’re invincible and that they’re going to destroy their opponent. Then they get hit once and fall down and roll around in agony and suddenly seem immobilized by pain, calling for the ref to intervene. 

Paul Feig

America’s Best Racing – Patrick Reed – Meet the 2026 Preakness Stakes Jockeys

The Baltimore Banner – Brandon Weigel –  Chad Brown’s colt Iron Honor set as slight favorite in a wide-open Preakness field

Phil has a question:

Since horse race fans are so traditional and nostalgic how would they like a 2026 Preakness with a 6 horse field like 1973.

2002 Preakness

Baltimore Sun – READER POLL: Do you plan to watch this year’s Preakness Stakes?

Bloodhorse – Benson, Goodall to be Honored at Alibi Breakfast

Brisnet – Vance Hanson – My Miss Mo draws widest in Black-Eyed Susan at Laurel

Calling All Angels

You will never understand bureaucracies until you understand that for bureaucrats procedure is everything and outcomes are nothing.

Thomas Sowell

DRF – David Grening – Preakness 2026: Late addition Incredibolt tabbed among favorites in field of 14

Long May You Run

If you aren’t in over your head, how do you know how tall you are? 

T. S. Eliot

TDN – Lillian Davis – Iron Honor Made 9-2 Favorite For Wide Open Preakness 151

TDN – Patrycja Szpyra – Iron Honor Made 9-2 Favorite for Wide Open Preakness 151

Brisnet – Get to know the 2026 Preakness Stakes contenders

DRF – David Grening – Preakness 2026: The plan remains the same, but Iron Honor is different

Paulick Report – Kentucky Derby Sixth Incredibolt ‘Doing Extremely Well,’ Enters Preakness

Bloodhorse – America’s Best Racing – Julie June Stewart – Connections Hope Patience Pays Off With Talkin

Bloodhorse – Eric Mitchell – Silent Tactic Scratched From Preakness, Still Not 100%

Paulick Report – Kaitlyn Hill – New Dirt, New Rules: How Laurel Park’s Unique Layout Will Decide The 151st Preakness

Please Call Me Baby

Nature never did betray the heart that loved her.

William Wordsworth

TDN – Pretty Boy Miah Joins Preakness Field

Bloodhorse – Silent Tactic Appears Set for Preakness

Bloodhorse – Bob Ehalt – Napoleon Solo Eyes Starring Role in Preakness

TDN – Iron Honor on Track for Preakness, Ottinho Targets Belmont

Bloodhorse – Chip Honcho Puts in Final Move Ahead of Preakness

TDN – Chip Honcho Tunes Up for Preakness

DRF – David Grening – Preakness 2026: The Hell We Did has chaotic work during a busy training day at several sites

Black Magic Woman

Tis not too late to seek a newer world. 

Alfred Lord Tennyson

Bloodhorse – Taj Mahal Sparkles in Final Tuneup for 151st Preakness

Bloodhorse – Sean Collins – Ennis Breezes Great White Himself Ahead of Preakness

Bloodhorse – Sean Collins – Gargan Seeks Second Classic Win With Talkin

Ironic

The busy have no time for tears.

Lord Byron

TDN – Renegade Settles In At The Spa To Train Up For The Belmont Stakes

Bloodhorse – Byron King – The Maiden Ocelli Tasted Unofficial Victory at Aiken

Bloodhorse – Byron King and Sean Collins – Silent Tactic Takes Step Toward Preakness With Breeze

Magnificent Seven

We must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it.

William Faulkner

Bloodhorse – Byron King – The Road: Taj Mahal Carries Maryland’s Preakness Hopes

Bloodhorse – Preakness Stakes Notes: The Field is Shaping Up

TDN – Churchill Worktab: Preakness Possibles Silent Tactic, Corona de Oro on Track During Busy Friday Morning

Bloodhorse – Baffert ‘Very Tempted’ But Will Pass Preakness with Crude Velocity, Woody Stephens Target

DRF – David Grening – Preakness 2026: Napoleon Solo’s blazing works earn him final two-turn shot

Don’t Fence Me In

If people get all the sex they can handle, they’re so happy and content they just sit around and smile. I mean, you never feel aggressive just after you’ve gotten laid, right? Lots of sex for everybody, that’s a solution to the world’s problems.

Ted Turner

Bloodhorse – Preakness Notes: Jose Ortiz Reunites With Chip Honcho

Bloodhorse – Bob Ehalt – From the Magazine: Debating Best Timing of Preakness

Bloodhorse – America’s Best Racing – Mike Currey – A Look at the Probable Field for the Preakness Stakes

Phil has a suggestion:

Kentucky Derby – First Saturday in May

Preakness – First Saturday in June

Belmont – July 4th Long weekend Saturday

“In the 1950s and ’60s,” Beyer wrote, “good horses often raced with a week’s rest (or less).” He attributed the movement to less robust horses, use of the diuretic Lasix and a belief that horses will have a poor result if raced too quickly after a peak effort.

The Athletic – Mike Wilson – Why Kentucky Derby winners like Golden Tempo frequently skip the Preakness Stakes

Phil has a question:

Since all the naysayers about moving the date quote tradition, which tradition are they quoting post 1950 or Sir Barton days.

Bloodhorse – Taj Mahal, Talkin on Good Track Ahead of Preakness

Bloodhorse – Byron King – Ocelli, Corona de Oro Under Preakness Consideration

DRF – David Grening – Preakness Stakes 2026: Fifteen, including Golden Tempo, being considered

Forever Young

Well, I’m having a good time. Which makes me feel guilty too. How very English.

David Attenborough

CNN – Timmy the stranded humpback whale released into North Sea by rescue team

Phil has a question:

Have the rescuers ever heard of transparent aluminum. 

Spirit In The Sky

The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.

H. L. Mencken

Brisnet – Get to know the 2026 Preakness Stakes contenders

TDN – Preakness and Black-Eyed Susan Fields Take Shape, Junior Alvarado to Ride Crupper

Bloodhorse – Eclipse Award-Winning Writer Celebrates Pimlico in Film

“Pimlico from the Heart” will premiere at 9 a.m., Saturday, May 9, on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMPuJyY-baA), one week after the Kentucky Derby (G1) and a week before the Preakness Stakes is held for the first time at Laurel Park.

TDN – “I’ve Taken Worse Falls Out of Bed”: Great White Likely for Preakness

Comfortably Numb

I wish I could write as mysterious as a cat.

Edgar Allan Poe

Paulick Report – Jose Ortiz Caps Personal Triple Crown

Paulick Report – Preakness Update: No Shortage Of Possible Contenders For Maryland Classic

Bloodhorse – Preakness Has 16 Possible Despite Lack of Derby Runners

TDN – Preakness Field Takes Shape: Iron Honor Could Make Two For Viola

Bloodhorse – Great White Doing Well After Flipping, Derby Scratch

Bloodhorse – Byron King – DeVaux to Take Wait-And-See Approach with Golden Tempo

TDN – Golden Tempo Ships Back to Keeneland, Preakness Remains a Possibility

Mental Floss – Unsettling Theories About Edgar Allan Poe’s Mysterious Death

Believe only half of what you see and nothing that you hear.

Edgar Allan Poe

Bloodhorse – Byron King – Preakness Next for 2025 Champagne Winner Napoleon Solo

Bloodhorse – Frank Angst –  Chip Honcho to Skip Kentucky Derby, Target Preakness

Bloodhorse – Sean Collins – Brown Points Iron Honor to Preakness Instead of Derby

Bloodhorse – Sean Collins – Ottinho to Bypass Kentucky Derby

Phil has a question:

Has the thrill of just being in the Kentucky Derby gone.

Good Vibrations

Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go.

Oscar Wilde

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Phil M. Stockmen