Napoleon Solo Claims Preakness Stakes Victory Amidst Venue Relocation
The 7-1 favourite defeats Iron Honor and Chip Honcho in a race held behind closed doors due to renovations at Pimlico Race Course.
Napoleon Solo secured victory in the 151st running of the Preakness Stakes at Laurel Park in Maryland on Saturday, defeating Iron Honor and Chip Honcho to claim the second leg of the American Triple Crown. The 7-1 favourite held off a late challenge from the runners-up, with the race favourite Taj Mahal finishing a distant 10th after taking an early lead that faded on the back stretch.
The win netted a $1.2 million purse for owner Gold Square LLC, head trainer Chad Summers, and jockey Paco Lopez. Under standard industry splits, 80 per cent of the prize money goes to the owners, while the trainer and jockey each receive 10 per cent. The remaining purse was distributed among the top five finishers, with Iron Honor taking $400,000, Chip Honcho $220,000, Ocelli $120,000, and Incredibolt $60,000.
The event marked a significant logistical shift for the historic race, which was moved to Laurel Park while Pimlico Race Course undergoes extensive renovations. The race was held behind closed doors with a strict capacity cap of 4,800 attendees. Post time was scheduled for 6:50 p.m. ET, with betting payouts reflecting the upset nature of the result, including a $17.80 win return for Napoleon Solo and a $2,377.80 Superfecta payout for the 10-9-6-2 combination.
Triple Crown aspirations for the 2026 season effectively ended before the race began, as previous Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo did not participate. This marks the second consecutive year the Derby victor has skipped the Preakness, leaving the field open for other contenders such as Ocelli, who finished third in the Derby and posted a career-best HRN speed figure of 108 at Churchill Downs.
The absence of the Derby winner has continued a trend that has seen the traditional Triple Crown path disrupted in recent years. With the Preakness now concluded, the focus shifts to the final leg of the series, though the competitive landscape has been altered by the strategic decisions of the top connections and the temporary relocation of the venue.
