Preakness Profile: Taj Mahal
Local hopeful 5-1 on the morning line
The Biz
May 16, 2026
1. Taj Mahal (5-1)
Owner: SF Racing, LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, LLC, Stonestreet Stables, LLC, Bashor Racing, LLC, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital, LLC and Catherine Donovan
Color / Sex: Bay Colt
Bred / By: Florida / Vegso Racing Stable
Sire – Dam (Damsire): Nyquist – Oola Gal, by Quality Road
Starts-Wins-Places-Shows / Earnings: 3-3-0-0 / $178,200
Jockey / Trainer: Sheldon Russell / Brittany Russell
Few horses in this year’s Preakness field have risen through the ranks as quickly as Taj Mahal. The Brittany Russell trainee enters unbeaten in three starts, all at Laurel Park, and appears to have improved dramatically with distance. After overcoming a slow start to break his maiden sprinting in February, Taj Mahal captured the Miracle Wood Stakes and Federico Tesio Stakes in determined fashion. In the Tesio, he controlled the pace throughout and drew away late to earn a career-best 92 Beyer Speed Figure.
The colt is bred to be good. Taj Mahal is by champion Nyquist, whose offspring continue to show versatility and class, and out of Oola Gal, a daughter of Quality Road. That pedigree blends speed with stamina influences, and the female family suggests improvement with maturity. He was a $525,000 purchase as a yearling.
Taj Mahal figures to be part of the pace from the outset in the Preakness. His natural early foot and comfort over Laurel’s surface make him especially dangerous, and his local experience could prove valuable in a bulky field. The question is whether he can withstand stronger and more seasoned competition than he has faced so far. Still, an unbeaten local colt with tactical speed is impossible to dismiss.
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