2026 Preakness Stakes picks: Best horses to use in exactas, trifectas

Nypost · May 16, 2026 · 674 words · By Michael Leboff

Sports Betting Strategy Horse Racing Analysis

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What to know about Sports Betting Strategy

The 2026 Kentucky Derby was a bettor’s delight.

Claims checked 12

Techniques found 1

Topics 2

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

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Center0%

Right100%

1 source compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

The 2026 Kentucky Derby was a bettor’s delight.

Why it matters

If you had the right read on the Run for the Roses, you were walking away with a handsome payout on exactas and trifectas thanks to Golden Tempo’s win at 25-1 odds and Ocelli crashing the podium as a 70-1 long shot.

Common ground

Even with Renegade, the morning-line favorite, in second place, the payouts for exotics were still out of this world.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Sports Betting Strategy story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that his win at the Rushaway Stakes proved he can win a race from the rear?
How does this story connect Sports Betting Strategy with Horse Racing Analysis over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/05/16/betting/2026-preakness-stakes-picks-best-horses-to…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 1 propaganda technique in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 80% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 12 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 5

schedule Pending 2

info Single Source 2

help Insufficient Evidence 2

cancel Disputed 1

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Claim 1: “his win at the Rushaway Stakes proved he can win a race from the rear”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 2: “a $0.50 trifecta would have earned you $2,845.20”

SINGLE SOURCE

While the search results confirm Golden Tempo won the race, none of the provided evidence mentions the specific trifecta payout amount.

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web search NEUTRAL — Golden Tempo (23-1) made history at the 152nd Kentucky Derby, as the 19 horse pulled off an improbable stretch run from the outside to edge out co-favorite Renegade (5-1) at the finish line and make C…
https://www.cbssports.com/general/news/2026-kentucky-derby-l…

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web search NEUTRAL — 2026 Kentucky Derby is the 152nd renewal of The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports and will run on May 2nd, 2026. Find live odds, horse bios, travel info, tickets, news, and updates.
https://www.kentuckyderby.com/

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web search NEUTRAL — The 2026 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, took place with Golden Tempo taking the "Run for the Roses. .Aside from the main race, the day also featured a 14-race undercard lin…
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/horseracing/2026/05/02…

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Claim 3: “Taj Mahal... brings an unblemished record to the Preakness”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources describe Taj Mahal as 'undefeated' or having 'three wins in three starts' entering the 2026 Preakness Stakes.

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web search NEUTRAL — Locally based Taj Mahal, currently no. 18 in the NTRA Top 3-Year-Old Poll, is trained by Brittany Russell and will be ridden by her husband Sheldon Russell in Saturday’s Preakness Stakes (G1) at Laure…
https://www.ntra.com/undefeated-taj-mahal-looks-for-preaknes…

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web search NEUTRAL — Florida-bred Thoroughbred Taj Mahal breezes with exercise rider Alex Beitia over the main track at Laurel Park, in preparation for the 2026 Preakness. (Photo: ©Maryland Jockey Club).
https://www.ftboa.com/florida-bred-taj-mahal-sparkles-in-fin…

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web search NEUTRAL — 2026 Preakness Stakes horses and odds. Iron Honor was picked as the morning-line favorite for the 1 3/16-mile Preakness with 9-2 odds in Monday's post-position draw.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/preakness-stakes-horses-2026/

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Claim 4: “all three of his wins have come over the Laurel Park surface, including a dominant performance in the Federico Tesio Stakes on April 18”

CORROBORATED

Three independent sources confirm Taj Mahal won three races at Laurel Park, specifically highlighting the Federico Tesio Stakes on April 18.

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web search NEUTRAL — Taj Mahal took the lead right out of the starting gate and never looked back as he cruised to an eight-and-a-quarter length victory in the $150,000 Federico Tesio Stakes at Laurel Park on Saturday, Ap…
https://www.darleyamerica.com/news/taj-mahal-rockets-victory…

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web search NEUTRAL — Taj Mahal is unbeaten in three races, all at Laurel Park, including going wire to wire to win the Federico Tesio Stakes on April 18 by more then eight lengths.
https://www.lex18.com/news/national-news/brittany-russell-wi…

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web search NEUTRAL — 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 leng…
https://fieldlevelmedia.com/general/iron-honor-minor-favorit…

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Claim 5: “Golden Tempo’s win at 25-1 odds”

DISPUTED

Two sources confirm Golden Tempo won the 2026 Kentucky Derby, but they contradict each other on the odds: CBS Sports mentions co-favorites at 5-1 and an 'improbable stretch run', while NPR explicitly states the odds were 23-1. The claim of 25-1 is not supported by either source.

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web search NEUTRAL — Golden Tempo makes history with 2026 Kentucky Derby win for Cherie DeVaux.This year's race features one of the most-bunched top of the odds sheet in recent memory, as Renegade, So Happy and Further Ad…
https://www.cbssports.com/general/news/2026-kentucky-derby-l…

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web search NEUTRAL — Golden Tempo has won the Kentucky Derby at odds of 23-1 to make Cherie DeVaux the first woman to train the winner of the opening leg of the Triple Crown.
https://www.npr.org/2026/05/02/nx-s1-5808929/golden-tempo-ke…

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Claim 6: “had his momentum halted with consecutive fifth-place finishes on the Kentucky Derby Trail”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the search results regarding Napoleon Solo's performance on the Kentucky Derby Trail.

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Claim 7: “Renegade, the morning-line favorite, in second place”

CORROBORATED

CBS Sports confirms that Renegade was a co-favorite (5-1) and was edged out at the finish line by Golden Tempo, placing him in second.

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web search NEUTRAL — Renegade is an American television series that ran for 110 episodes spanning five seasons, first broadcast between September 19, 1992, and April 4, 1997. The series was created by Stephen J. Cannell.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renegade_(TV_series)

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web search NEUTRAL — We are a locally owned coffee shop that serves fresh locally roasted coffee, fresh brew, made to order breakfast and lunch favorites.
https://renegadecoffeeaz.com/

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web search NEUTRAL — Renegade: Created by Stephen J. Cannell. With Lorenzo Lamas, Branscombe Richmond, Don LaFontaine, Kathleen Kinmont. After crooked cop Lieutenant "Dutch" Dixon kills his girlfriend and frames him for m…
https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0103524

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Claim 8: “A $2 exacta returned $314.60 at the Derby”

SINGLE SOURCE

The web search results for this claim returned information about a wellness center in Washougal, WA, and provided no data regarding betting payouts for the 2026 Kentucky Derby.

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web search NEUTRAL — They’re part of an effort to gather community input and help shape Washougal’s future. Branding Washougal is all about defining what makes our city unique—and your voice matters.
https://www.facebook.com/ripplewellness/

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web search NEUTRAL — Ripple Wellness is a Urgent Care located in Washougal, WA at 2614 E St, Washougal, WA 98671, United States providing non-emergency, outpatient, primary care on a walk-in basis with no appointment need…
https://urgentcarelocations.org/wa/washougal/372975--ripple-…

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web search NEUTRAL — Ripple Wellness located at 2614 E St, Washougal, WA 98671 - reviews, ratings, hours, phone number, directions, and more.
https://www.chamberofcommerce.com/business-directory/washing…

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Claim 9: “he’ll also have one of the best jockeys in the sport, Irad Ortiz Jr., aboard to guide him on the dirt at Laurel Park”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 10: “He had a star-turning win in the Champagne Stakes in October”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the search results regarding Napoleon Solo or the Champagne Stakes.

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Claim 11: “three horses since 2015 have donned the Black-Eyed Susans after getting slotted into the No. 1 gate: American Pharoah (2015), War of Will (2019) and National Treasure (2023)”

CORROBORATED

Both a horse-by-horse preview and the ESPN winners list confirm that American Pharoah (2015), War of Will (2019), and National Treasure (2023) won the Preakness Stakes, and the preview specifically links them to the No. 1 post.

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web search NEUTRAL — The Preakness Stakes is an American thoroughbred horse race held annually on the third Saturday in May at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland (except in 2026 when it will move to Laurel Park du…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preakness_Stakes

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web search NEUTRAL — No one’s won more Preaknesses as a trainer than Bob Baffert (eight). The No. 1 post has won three times here in the last 10 years (American Pharoah 2015; War of Will 2019; National Treasure 2023).
https://www.inquirer.com/sports/2025-preakness-stakes-horses…

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web search NEUTRAL — Seize The Grey won the 2024 Preakness Stakes. Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images. ESPN.2023: National Treasure, John Velazquez. 2022: Early Voting, Jose Ortiz. 2021: Rombauer, Flavien Prat. 2020: Swis…
https://www.espn.in/horse-racing/story/_/id/45127173/who-won…

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Claim 12: “Ocelli crashing the podium as a 70-1 long shot”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources confirm Ocelli finished third in the Kentucky Derby, including a specific mention that he was a maiden finisher and a profile discussing his rallying third place.

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web search NEUTRAL — 2 days ago · Ocelli profile: 2026 Preakness Stakes odds, post position, history and more to know Get caught up with Ocelli's past performances, jockey, trainer and full analysis heading into the secon…
https://www.cbssports.com/betting/news/ocelli-profile-2026-p…

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web search NEUTRAL — Ocelli is winless through six starts, but his rallying third in the Wood Memorial (G2), closing from far back to miss by just 1½ lengths, reveals a genuine late kick and a horse still finding himself.
https://www.kentuckyderby.com/horses/ocelli/

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web search NEUTRAL — 4 days ago · Ocelli’s third-place Derby finish was the best result of 14 maidens who have attempted to win the race since 1937. As far as the Preakness goes, six maidens won from 1873 to 1888.
https://www.drf.com/news/preakness-2026-still-maiden-third-p…

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.