Napoleon Solo held off Iron Honor down the stretch to win the 151st Preakness Stakes on Saturday at Laurel Park, where the race was relocated due to ongoing renovations at Pimlico Race Course. The victory marked the horse's first win of the year after two consecutive fifth-place finishes.
Jockey Paco Lopez guided Napoleon Solo to the front on the outside near the finish line, securing a breakthrough stakes victory for both himself and trainer Chad Summers. The horse opened at 8-1 odds and closed at 7-1, making it an upset in a wide-open field of 14 runners — the largest Preakness field since 2018.
Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo was notably absent from the race after trainer Cherie DeVaux opted to skip the middle leg of the Triple Crown. The decision opened the field considerably, with Iron Honor finishing second and Chip Honcho taking third place ahead of Ocelli in fourth.
Napoleon Solo nearly missed the race entirely. Lopez revealed after the victory that a late suggestion convinced connections to enter the horse, a decision that proved decisive as the colt collected the $2 million purse.
The result adds another chapter to the Triple Crown series, with the Belmont Stakes next on the calendar. Whether Napoleon Solo will contest the final leg remains to be seen, but Saturday's performance established him as a legitimate contender in the three-year-old division.
This article was produced by AVALW News on Sunday, May 17, 2026 based on reporting from 5 verified news sources. Our editorial process cross-references facts from multiple independent outlets to deliver accurate, comprehensive coverage. All original sources are linked below.