There was a quiet sense of satisfaction for Brittany Russell when Jena Antonucci became the first female trainer to win a Triple Crown race with Arcangelo in the Belmont Stakes three years ago. The feeling returned earlier this month when Cherie DeVaux prepared Golden Tempo to capture the Kentucky Derby. Now, with the 151st running of the Preakness Stakes approaching at Laurel Park, Russell finds herself carrying another significant moment for women in American racing.
Preakness Stakes 2026.
Russell, Maryland’s champion trainer for the last three seasons, will saddle the unbeaten Taj Mahal in Saturday’s Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown at her home track. Her husband, jockey Sheldon Russell, has the ride after the pair drew the rail in a capacity field of 14 runners, the largest Preakness lineup since 2011.
The colt completed his usual morning exercise on Tuesday, jogging and galloping shortly after sunrise as Russell finalised preparations for the biggest race of her career.
“I paddock school everything. He can be a little feel-good on race day, so it’s necessary,” Russell said. “He’ll go to the gate tomorrow, so he’ll do a little bit more in his gallops, but he’s aggressive. He’s doing plenty.”
Only one Triple Crown race remains unconquered by a female trainer, and Russell now has an opportunity to change that on Maryland soil. Sixteen women have previously saddled runners in the Preakness, dating back to Judy Johnson in 1968. Nancy Alberts came closest in 2002 when Magic Weisner finished second behind War Emblem at long odds.
Russell, however, appears more focused on responsibility than history.
“Jena opened the door and Cherie walked through it in the Derby,” she said. “There’s little girls looking at us right now and we were once in that position.”
The 36-year-old conditioner has rapidly become one of the most respected horsemen in the Mid-Atlantic region since launching her public stable in 2018. After working under trainers including Brad Cox and the late Jonathan Sheppard, Russell established herself as a dominant force at Laurel Park and Pimlico.
Taj Mahal arrives with powerful ownership support from SF Racing, Starlight Racing and Madaket Stables, partnerships that previously celebrated Preakness success with National Treasure in 2023. The colt originally began his career under Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert before joining Russell last autumn.
While Taj Mahal headlines the local story, Saturday’s Preakness Stakes 2026 field has developed into one of the most competitive in recent years.
Trainer Riley Mott made a late decision to supplement Kentucky Derby runner Incredibolt after Silent Tactic was withdrawn earlier in the week. The son of Bolt d’Oro finished sixth in the Derby after encountering traffic problems in the stretch and now returns on two weeks’ rest under jockey Jaime Torres.
“I thought he ran a sneaky-good race,” Mott said. “He was pretty close to the quick pace and still fought on.”
Five-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown will saddle morning-line favourite Iron Honor, who follows a similar preparation route to Brown’s previous Preakness winners Cloud Computing and Early Voting. The Gotham Stakes winner is expected to improve after a troubled seventh-place effort in the Wood Memorial and will be ridden for the first time by Flavien Prat.
Brown has removed blinkers for the colt’s Laurel Park assignment in an effort to help him settle more effectively over the 1 3/16-mile distance.
Elsewhere, veteran trainer Steve Asmussen remains committed to the front-running style of Chip Honcho despite a pace-heavy field. Jose Ortiz reunites with the colt, who skipped the Kentucky Derby following his Louisiana Derby effort.
“We can’t be somebody we’re not,” Asmussen said. “We know who we are.”
The Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Ocelli also returns quickly for trainer Whit Beckman after his eye-catching 70-1 performance at Churchill Downs. The son of Connect remains a maiden but could become the first maiden winner of the Preakness since 1888.
Other notable contenders include Champagne Stakes winner Napoleon Solo for Chad Summers, Blue Grass Stakes runner Talkin for Danny Gargan, improving gelding Pretty Boy Miah, and Great White, whose connections believe an outside draw may suit his long-striding running style.
Trainer Todd Fincher’s The Hell We Did has already spent more than two weeks settled at Laurel Park and arrives off a strong second-place finish in the Lexington Stakes, while Doug O’Neill sends Robusta back to Maryland after the colt contested the Kentucky Derby from the difficult outside gate.
The Preakness Stakes 2026 has gathered a fascinating blend of proven graded performers, improving late-developers and ambitious fresh challengers. Yet much of the attention inevitably returns to Russell and Taj Mahal, whose presence has already added a deeper layer of significance to Saturday’s Classic.
For Russell, the occasion carries professional ambition, local pride and broader meaning all at once.
“I think it is important that we kind of show up for them and be a good example and role model,” she said. “I have a little girl. All Edy is going to know is to work.”
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