Preakness Offers Chance for Female Trainers To Complete Triple Crown

A Triple Crown will be at stake after all during Saturday’s running of the 151st Preakness. Not for any of the horses, but for Brittany Russell, who has a chance to complete the Triple Crown for women trainers.Cherie DeVaux became the first female to train a Kentucky Derby winner when Golden Tempo captured the 152nd Run for the Roses two weeks ago at Churchill Downs. She joined Jena Antonucci, who captured the Belmont three years ago with Arcangelo, as the only female trainers to win a Triple Crown race.Ms. Russell gets her chance to be the first female trainer to win the Preakness when she saddles Taj Mahal for the second leg of the 2026 Triple Crown series.“A win would feel like a fairy tale,” Ms. Russell told reporters of potentially making history. “The fact that I have a live one in the Preakness, there’s some pressure, but it would mean an awful lot.”Ms. DeVaux elected not to enter Golden Tempo in the Preakness, foregoing a chance to become the first Triple Crown winner since Justify in 2018. While Golden Tempo rests for the Belmont, Ms. Russell and Taj Mahal have a chance to create their own history.Unlike Golden Tempo, a 23-1 surprise winner, Taj Mahal opened as a co-second choice in the 14-horse field at 5-1 odds. Iron Honor is the early favorite at 9-2, but the odds could swing by post-time set for approximately 6:50 p.m. EDT.If a home track matters in horse racing, Taj Mahal should benefit from familiar surroundings. The Preakness is being run this year at Laurel Park, located halfway between Baltimore and Washington D.C., while Pimlico Race Course undergoes a $400 million redevelopment in Baltimore.All three of Taj Mahal’s races — all wins — have come at Laurel and he is the only entry that has raced on the track.“He’s never left his stall in his barn at Laurel,” Ms. Russell said. “On the big day, he’ll have a chance to do it at home. I’d like to think it’s a major advantage.”Ms. Russell’s husband, Sheldon, will ride Taj Mahal, which will break from the rail. While Brittany, 38, is a native of Pennsylvania, Sheldon, 38, was born in Louisiana but began his riding career in England. The couple have been married since 2018, the year Ms. Russell opened her own stable after working under several trainers, including Brad Cox.Ms. Russell inherited Taj Mahal from Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert last fall at a time when the colt wasn’t progressing as expected. “When he first showed up, it took some time for him to come around,” she said. “Honestly that’s why he was sent my way. If horses aren’t progressing or need a change of scenery, luckily for me it’s kind of become their place [for owners] to send them.”Ms. Russell said she wasn’t initially impressed. “The first time I worked him, did I think he would become a star? No,” she said. “It took some time, but he developed and he progressed.”With Golden Tempo becoming the second straight Kentucky Derby winner and third in the last five years to skip the Preakness, there are just three Derby horses entered for Saturday’s 1 3/16-mile test. Ocelli, at 6-1, was third at Churchill; Incredibolt (5-1) was sixth; and Robusta (30-1) finished 14th.Joining Taj Mahal and Incredibolt at 5-1 is Chip Honcho, who will be ridden by Kentucky Derby winner Jose Ortiz. Irad Ortiz will ride Talkin, a 20-1 shot.Iron Honor is the morning-line favorite at 9-2. Trained by a two-time Preakness winner, Chad Brown, the horse will break from post-position nine with Flavian Pratt aboard. Great White, which was scratched at the Derby gate after throwing his rider, is a 15-1 choice.Sheldon Russell doesn’t think breaking from the rail will be a disadvantage. “To be fair, he’s a good gate horse,” Mr. Russell told reporters. “He broke so sharp last time. … If he were to do the same thing again, he’d put me in a great spot. We’ve just got to hold that spot until we get to the bend, but we’ve got a longer run this time. He’s going to have to overcome a few things, but good horses overcome things.”A Maryland-based horse hasn’t won the Preakness since 1983 when 14-1 shot Deputed Testamony dominated the field in the mud. Taj Mahal hopes to end that drought and make history for Ms. Russell.“Jena opened the door, and then Cherie,” she said. “Laurel got my career going, and with this being my first Triple Crown race, it’s pretty cool.”

Preakness Offers Chance for Female Trainers To Complete Triple Crown

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