Napoleon Solo completed the second leg of the North American Turf Tríplice Coroa by winning Preakness Stakes 2026 this Saturday in Laurel Park, Maryland. The horse started the day as a 10 to 1 underdog, but managed to get around the 14 entrants and cross the finish line in first place. The victory earned the winner a prize of R$ 1.2 million (US$ 1,200,000 in official values), extracted from the total purse of R$ 2 million (US$ 2 million) allocated to the race.
The absence of Golden Tempo, champion of the 2026 Kentucky Derby, meant that no horse would be able to complete the Tríplice Coroa this year. Apenas two competitors from the initial test Ocelli and Incredibolt returned to the contest. The largely renewed field created an open and unpredictable competition, culminating in Napoleon Solo’s dramatic turnaround in the final meters. The 1,900 meter race took place on the Laurel Park turf, the traditional stage for the second American turf classic.
Distribuição of prizes for the top five
The first five competitors shared the purse according to the following sequence of payouts:
- 1st place (Napoleon Solo): R$ 1,200,000 (US$ 1,200,000)
- 2nd place (Iron Honor): R$400,000 (US$400,000)
- 3rd place (Chip Honcho): R$220,000 (US$220,000)
- 4th place (Ocelli): R$120,000 (US$120,000)
- 5th place (Incredibolt): R$60,000 (US$60,000)
Do total of R$1.2 million received by the winner, 80% goes directly to the horse’s owners. The trainer and jockey split the remaining 20% equally, each receiving 10% of the prize. Essa distribution structure represents the standard adopted in major Estados Unidos horse races and reflects the importance of all parties involved in an animal’s campaign.
Congratulations to the connections of Napoleon Solo for his win in the 151st Preakness Stakes! 🌼
— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) May 16, 2026
📸: Equi-Photo pic.twitter.com/EWJ0x0rT4T
Retorno of bets on the winner
Betting tables recorded significant returns for those who bet on Napoleon Solo. In a simple bet of two monetary units, the animal paid R$ 17.80 (US$ 17.80) to whoever guessed the victory. In the “place” market, when the horse finishes in the top two, bettors received R$9.80. Já in the “show” market any of the top three placed — the return was R$7.40.
Iron Honor, which finished in second position, offered lower returns to bettors. In the local market, it paid R$9.20, while at the show it returned R$6.60. Chip Honcho, third place, produced a value of R$8.20 only for those who chose it in the show mode. The variations reflect the different probabilities assigned to each competitor before the race and the combinations between bettors who chose each animal.
Favoritos from the day before did not confirm expectations
In the morning of the day of the race, Iron Honor was the bookmakers’ absolute favorite, with an opening line of 9 to 2. The starting position was number nine. Conforme As the day progressed and bettors refined their strategies, Incredibolt and Taj Mahal emerged as the two main favorites at the start. Incredibolt, with odds of 5 to 1 and coming from 12th position, represented the most common choice among betmakers. Taj Mahal, paired at 5 to 1 in some houses and 9 to 2 in others, started in the number one position.
Iron Honor saw his odds fall to 8 to 1 around race time, signaling a loss of confidence from bettors. Taj Mahal maintained competitive odds of around 9 to 2. The open dispute reflected the quality of the field assembled, with multiple animals capable of winning.
The Woodlawn Vase trophy and the tradition of the race
Junto to the cash prize, Napoleon Solo won the right to have his name engraved on Woodlawn Vase, Preakness Stakes’s official trophy. The piece measures 36 inches tall and weighs 30 pounds, and is crafted from solid sterling silver by renowned jewelry makers Tiffany & Co. The trophy represents one of the pieces of greatest artistic and historical value among all North American racing awards, and will appear in the owner’s display case as a perpetual symbol of the achievement.
The 2026 Preakness Stakes was the 151st edition of the race, which began in 1873. The race has achieved status as an undisputed classic in the history of American racing. Seu journey in Laurel Park consolidates the importance of Maryland as a center of excellence in horse sport.
Contexto from the field and recent history
Ocelli and Incredibolt were the only members of the initial test, the 2026 Kentucky Derby, who returned to the contest in the Preakness. Tal configuration significantly altered the dynamics of favorites and expectations. In the previous edition, in 2025, Journalism took victory as favorite horse, beating Gosger and Sandman in a field of just nine competitors. The expansion to 14 competitors in 2026 reflected greater interest and quality of entrants.
Golden Tempo, winner of Kentucky Derby, chose not to participate in the second leg. Sua’s absence eliminated the possibility of a horse winning Tríplice Coroa in 2026. The phenomenon of Tríplice Coroa winning Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes in the same year remains rare in modern racing. The last time a horse completed this feat was in 1978, with Affirmed. Desde then, only one animal achieved the feat, transforming any Tríplice Coroa into a historic event.
Perspectivas for the third leg
Belmont Stakes, the third and final leg of Tríplice Coroa, will still take place in 2026. Sem is an undefeated competitor or with ambitions of completing the series of three victories, the race will tend to receive a new group of competitors and favorites. Analistas speculate that the winner of Preakness Napoleon Solo may or may not compete in the third leg, according to the strategy of its trainer and owner.
The unexpected victory of an underdog horse like Napoleon Solo reinforces the unpredictable nature of horse racing, where physical form, the jockey’s playing tactics, starting position and weather conditions become determining factors. The result of this Preakness Stakes will remain among the most memorable of the 2026 season.
