Napoleon Solo Captures the 151st Preakness Stakes at Laurel Park

The 151st running of the Preakness Stakes delivered a new setting, a wide-open field, and a dramatic finish Saturday night as Napoleon Solo surged past the leaders in the stretch to win the middle jewel of horse racing’s Triple Crown at Laurel Park.

With Pimlico Race Course undergoing major renovations, the Preakness moved to Laurel Park for the first time in race history. The temporary move created a different atmosphere than the traditional Baltimore spectacle, but the action on the track still delivered one of the biggest moments in horse racing.

Napoleon Solo entered the race at 7-1 odds and gave trainer Chad Summers his first career Triple Crown race victory. Jockey Paco Lopez guided the colt perfectly through traffic before making the decisive move around the far turn.

Local favorite Taj Mahal exploded out of the gate and controlled the pace early in front of an energized Maryland crowd. Trainer Brittany Russell looked poised to make history as the first female trainer to win the Preakness, and Taj Mahal carried that momentum through the opening fractions. Napoleon Solo stayed within striking distance while Iron Honor settled comfortably behind the leaders waiting for the stretch run.

The race changed quickly entering the final turn.

Napoleon Solo accelerated past Taj Mahal approaching the top of the stretch and immediately opened separation from the field. Iron Honor attempted to close late but could not track down the winner before the wire. Chip Honcho finished third while Kentucky Derby contender Ocelli crossed in fourth.

Napoleon Solo completed the 1 3/16-mile race in 1:58.69, the slowest winning Preakness time in 75 years according to NBC Sports.

The final top five finishers:

1. Napoleon Solo
2. Iron Honor
3. Chip Honcho
4. Ocelli
5. Incredibolt

Saturday’s race also continued a growing modern trend in the Triple Crown schedule. Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo skipped the Preakness entirely, ending any chance for a Triple Crown run before the horses even reached the starting gate. Connections instead chose to focus on the upcoming Belmont Stakes.

That absence helped create one of the most unpredictable Preakness fields in recent memory. Taj Mahal entered as the hometown favorite after dominating races at Laurel earlier in the season, while Incredibolt and Ocelli brought Kentucky Derby experience into the field. Napoleon Solo, meanwhile, arrived searching for redemption after disappointing performances earlier this spring.

Saturday night changed the entire trajectory of that season.

Napoleon Solo looked every bit like the elite prospect many expected after last year’s Champagne Stakes victory. Sharp early positioning, patience from Lopez, and a powerful closing kick finally brought the colt back to top form on one of racing’s biggest stages.

The win also delivered an emotional moment for Summers, who spoke afterward about finally reaching the sport’s biggest stage after years of grinding through smaller circuits. Lopez celebrated his first Preakness victory as well, calling the ride “perfect” after the race.

Despite the historic setting change, Maryland racing still produced a memorable evening.

Laurel Park handled the spotlight well during one of the biggest sporting weekends in the state, and the race itself reminded fans why the Preakness continues to hold a unique place in American sports. Even without a Triple Crown chase, the atmosphere carried drama from start to finish.

Now attention turns toward the Belmont Stakes, where questions immediately begin surrounding whether Napoleon Solo will continue his late-season surge against a fresh field of challengers.