Taj Mahal Enters 2026 Preakness Stakes With Unbeaten Laurel Park Record
Maryland hasn't had a local horse this worth watching in a long time. Trained by Brittany Russell, Taj Mahal has been sharp from the start. His most recent outing was a dominant Federico Tesio Stakes win on April 18, pulling away by 8¼ lengths. Sheldon Russell stays in the irons after guiding him through that performance.
Taj Mahal opens at 5-1 on the morning line, and the buzz around him is real.
Taj Mahal heads into the 2026 Preakness Stakes unbeaten in three races and carrying something no other horse in the field can claim. Every one of those wins came right here at Laurel Park.
Brittany Russell was confident when asked about the advantage of running at a familiar track.
"All of our logistics are figured out 'cause we're home. Nothing changed for the horse, and obviously, it's easy for me because I know Laurel pretty well," she told Fox Baltimore's AJ Gersh.
Taj Mahal is an undefeated 3-0 at Laurel Park.
— AJ Gersh (@AJGershTV) May 14, 2026
The Maryland-based horse is 5-1 to win the 151st Preakness Stakes. If he does, trainer Brittany Russell would become the first woman trainer to win the Preakness, right after Cherie DeVaux became the first woman to win the Kentucky… pic.twitter.com/hDif6raPmr
Jockey Sheldon Russell echoed that sentiment before the race, pointing out that the Laurel Park surface actually undersells what the colt is capable of.
"Like most tracks, it's always nice to have a run or breeze over it," he said, per Blood Horse. "It's hard to go fast on this sort of track where the turns are wider, so naturally it's going to slow the horse down. Had 'Taj' run any of his races at another racetrack, his times would have been a lot faster. I think having raced at Laurel previously is a huge advantage. Hopefully that pays off."
Preakness Stakes Moves to Laurel Park for First Time Since 1908
That advantage matters more this year than it ever would have at Pimlico. For the first time since 1908, the second leg of the Triple Crown is not being run at Pimlico Race Course. The race moves to Laurel Park, roughly 20 miles south, and that shift changes the dynamic for every horse in the field except one.
Pimlico in recent years only operated during Preakness week, which meant no horse ever had a realistic shot at getting experience on that surface beforehand. Laurel is different. Taj Mahal has run here three times and won all three. He's the only starter in Saturday's field who knows this track.
The competition gets significantly tougher here, and the field is bigger than anything he's faced. But in a wide-open race without a clear favorite, a horse that's comfortable, unbeaten and at home is a dangerous thing. And if Taj Mahal wins, Brittany Russell would become the first woman trainer to win the Preakness, following Cherie DeVaux's Kentucky Derby breakthrough earlier this month.
Related: One Sleeper Horse That Could Surprise the Preakness Stakes Field
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This story was originally published May 16, 2026 at 2:37 PM.