Iron Honor minor favorite for rare full-field Preakness Stakes

For the first time in 15 years, Saturday's Preakness Stakes features a full field of 14 horses. That's the good news for the second leg of thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown, which will take place at Laurel Park.

However, for the second straight year and third time since 2022, the Kentucky Derby winner will bypass the 1 3/16-mile race. Golden Tempo's trainer Cherie DeVaux announced last week that her colt needed more time off before his next race, which will likely be the Belmont Stakes on June 6.

Only three horses that ran in Louisville on May 2 are in the Preakness, including third-place finisher Ocelli and Incredibolt, who ran sixth. Neither, though, is the morning-line favorite.

Instead, Iron Honor earned that distinction, getting 9-2 odds after landing the ninth gate in Monday's draw. Trained by Chad Brown, the colt sired by Nyquist has two wins in three career starts, including the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct on Feb. 28. That Derby prep win, though, was followed by a disappointing seventh-place showing in the Wood Memorial five weeks later.

"I was surprised he was made the morning-line favorite, but I am not surprised that he fits in this race," said Brown, a two-time Preakness winner.

Incredibolt is one of three horses priced at 5-1, along with Taj Mahal and Chip Honcho.

Taj Mahal has three wins in three starts, all of which took place at Laurel. Another horse sired by Nyquist, Taj Mahal won his last race, the Federico Tesio Stakes on April 18, by more than eight lengths to gain entry into the Preakness.

A fourth win for Taj Mahal would make history. He's trained by Brittany Russell, who is vying to become the first female trainer to win the Preakness. Her husband Sheldon Russell gets the mount.

Unfortunately for the Russells, Taj Mahal drew the inside post for Saturday's Preakness.

"It is what it is," Brittany Russell said. "He's a good gate horse, and we'll just have to play it as it unfolds."

Chip Honcho's trainer, Steve Asmussen, guided his colt to the Preakness after a disappointing fifth-place result in the Louisiana Derby on March 21. He finished second in the Risen Star Stakes on Feb. 14, 5-1/2 lengths ahead of Golden Tempo, which finished third in that race.

Jose Ortiz, who won the Derby with Golden Tempo, gets the ride atop Chip Honcho, which will break from the sixth post.

Virginia Derby winner Incredibolt will seek his fourth win in seven starts for trainer Riley Mott. The Bolt D'Oro colt ridden by Jaime Torres drew the 12th post.

Ocelli shocked many at the Kentucky Derby as the 70-1 maiden finished third. He has 6-1 morning-line odds after drawing the second post.

Trained by Whit Beckman, the colt has a second and five thirds in seven races. With a win Saturday, Ocelli would become the first maiden Preakness champ since Refund in 1888.

"He definitely earned his right to be here," jockey Tyler Gaffalione said. "He's competed against the top horses in the country and shows he deserves it. I think we have a big chance."

Laurel Park, located halfway between Baltimore and Washington, is hosting the Preakness this year while Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore undergoes a $400 million renovation that's expected to be finished before next year's race.

--Field Level Media