Owned by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Pine Racing Stables, Legendary Thoroughbreds, Belmar Racing and Breeding and R. A. Hill Stable, the son of Good Magic has remained at Keeneland Race Course since finishing third in the Blue Grass Stakes on April 4. Though beaten by impressive winner Further Ado, Talkin stayed on gamely after racing in tight quarters along the rail.
Gargan said the colt had returned earlier in the year after illness and needed time to regain full fitness, making his fifth-place finish in the Tampa Bay Derby an important stepping stone rather than a defining performance.
“He’s doing really, really well,” Gargan said. “He’s eating well, putting on weight and muscle, and he’s become stronger mentally and physically since the Blue Grass.”
The trainer added that Talkin has stopped showing some of the awkward tendencies that affected him earlier in his career, particularly when racing behind horses. Those signs of improvement have encouraged connections ahead of the second leg of the Triple Crown series.
A $600,000 purchase at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Talkin most recently worked a half-mile in 49 seconds and is scheduled for a final breeze this weekend before shipping to Maryland next week.
Despite qualifying comfortably for the Kentucky Derby, Gargan said the Preakness had long been the preferred target.
“I wanted to give him the chance to develop properly,” he explained. “We always felt more time would help him.”
The Gargan family already shares a connection with Maryland racing history. Danny Gargan’s late father, also named Danny, won the 1973 Kentucky Oaks aboard Bag of Tunes and later captured the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes with Fish Wife.
Another leading name among the Preakness Stakes 2026 contenders is unbeaten colt Taj Mahal from the stable of Brittany Russell. The bay colt secured his place in the field with a commanding victory in the Federico Tesio Stakes at Laurel Park, stretching his record to three wins from three starts.
Russell described the colt as a naturally confident horse who enjoys attention around the barn.
“He knows he’s special,” she said. “He walks to the track like he owns the place.”
Taj Mahal is expected to complete another workout this weekend after producing a sharp five-furlong drill in 1:00.40. Originally trained in California by Hall of Fame conditioner Bob Baffert, the colt was later transferred to Russell and has progressed rapidly since joining her stable.
Meanwhile, Pretty Boy Miah continues to work toward a possible Preakness appearance from trainer Jeremiah Englehart’s barn. The improving colt is scheduled to breeze at Saratoga this weekend as connections wait to learn whether his earnings will be sufficient to secure a place in the field.
Pretty Boy Miah has won his last two starts impressively at Aqueduct Racetrack after blinkers were added to his equipment. Englehart believes the colt is beginning to fulfil the promise he had shown at home from an early stage.
The developing Preakness picture has also brought renewed attention to the race’s long history. The largest field in the event came in 1928 when 18 runners contested the classic at Pimlico Race Course, with Victorian narrowly defeating Toro by a nose.
This year’s renewal could still feature up to 16 possible starters, including Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo, Taj Mahal, Talkin and Pretty Boy Miah, setting up a competitive edition of the historic American classic.
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