Napoleon Solo Wins 151st Preakness Stakes at Laurel Park

Why it matters locally: The 151st Preakness Stakes was held at Laurel Park due to ongoing renovations at Pimlico Race Course, impacting horse racing operations and tourism in the state. The decision to host at Laurel Park highlights shifts in the long-term venue for this major Maryland sporting event.

Napoleon Solo won the 151st Preakness Stakes at Laurel Park in Maryland on Saturday. The horse, ridden by Paco Lopez, executed a late run around the final turn, moving from behind pacesetter Taj Mahal to take the lead. This victory marked the first Preakness win for both Lopez and trainer Chad Summers. Iron Honor, trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Flavien Prat, finished second. Chip Honcho, trained by Steve Asmussen and ridden by Jose Ortiz, secured third place. Ortiz previously rode Golden Tempo to victory in the Kentucky Derby. Taj Mahal, the 9-2 favorite trained by Brittany Russell and ridden by Sheldon Russell, led early but faded to finish 10th in the 14-horse field. Golden Tempo, the Kentucky Derby winner, did not participate in the Preakness. The event took place at Laurel Park, accommodating approximately 4,000 spectators, due to ongoing renovations at Pimlico. The Triple Crown series concludes with the Belmont Stakes on June 6, held at Saratoga for the third consecutive year.