Brittany Russell takes a live home-track chance into Saturday’s 151st Preakness Stakes at Laurel Park, where unbeaten Taj Mahal gives Maryland’s reigning leading trainer a shot at becoming the first woman to win the middle leg of the Triple Crown.
Russell will saddle Taj Mahal in a full field of 14 Preakness Stakes runners. The colt went through his usual Tuesday routine before more schooling later in the week.
The same report said Taj Mahal is drawn in stall 1, and showing Preakness Stakes betting odds of 5-1.
Plus, will again be ridden by Russell’s husband, Sheldon Russell.
A Historic Opening Remains in the Triple Crown Record
The Preakness is now the only Triple Crown race still waiting for a female trainer to win it after Jena Antonucci’s 2023 Belmont Stakes success and Cherie DeVaux’s Kentucky Derby win earlier this month.
Sixteen women have previously saddled a Preakness runner, with Nancy Alberts’ runner-up finish by Magic Weisner in 2002 still the best result.
That makes Brittany Russell’s presence more than a local-interest note.
She is a three-time consecutive Maryland year-end champion trainer, and this year’s race is being staged at her home base while Pimlico is being rebuilt.
If Taj Mahal runs to his recent Laurel form, the story will be one of both sporting and regional significance.
Taj Mahal Brings the Right Local Profile
Taj Mahal has done all his racing and training at Laurel since joining Russell, and the colt earned his Preakness place by winning the Federico Tesio Stakes on April 18 (watch below).
Equibase and Laurel Park both reported that he stayed unbeaten by taking that race by 8 1/4 lengths, securing the automatic berth into Saturday’s Classic over the same track that now hosts the Preakness during Pimlico’s reconstruction.
After Monday’s draw, Thoroughbred Daily News added that Taj Mahal had posted a fourth consecutive bullet work at Laurel on May 9 and was installed at 5-1 on the morning line after landing the rail.
The same report said the full Preakness field contains 14 runners, with Taj Mahal among the main home-track hopes in a wide-open edition of the race.
WATCH: Taj Mahal Winning The Federico Tesio Stakes at Laurel Park
Preakness Stakes Betting Odds & Post Position 2026
- Taj Mahal 5/1 (Brittany Russell)
- Ocelli 6/1 (D Whitworth Beckman)
- Crupper 30/1 (Donnie Von Hemel)
- Robusta 30/1 (Doug O’Neill)
- Talkin 20/1 (Danny Gargan)
- Chip Honcho 5/1 (Steven Asmussen)
- The Hell We Did 15/1 (Todd Fincher)
- Bull By The Horns 30/1 (Saffie Joseph Jr)
- Iron Honor 9/2f (Chad Brown)
- Napoleon Solo 8/1 (Chad Summers)
- Corona De Oro 30/1 (Dallas Stewart)
- Incredibolt 5/1 (Riley Mott)
- Great White 15/1 (John Ennis)
- Pretty Boy Miah 15/1 (Jeremiah Englehart)
Note: Preakness Stakes betting odds are subject to change and others on request.
