Horse Name
| Talkin — 2026 Preakness Stakes Profile | |
|---|---|
| Horse | Talkin |
| Sire | Good Magic |
| Owner | Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Pine Racing Stables, Legendary Thoroughbreds, Belmar Racing and Breeding, LLC and R. A. Hill Stable |
| Trainer | Danny Gargan |
| Jockey | I. Ortiz Jr. |
| Post Position | 5 |
| Morning Line Odds | 20-1 |
| Running Style | Stalker / Late Closer |
| Top Speed Figure | 115 (HRN) |
| Race | 151st Preakness Stakes, Laurel Park |
| Distance | 1 3/16 Miles (Dirt) |
| Previous Start | 3rd. 2026 Blue Grass (G1), Keeneland |
For the complete field and current Preakness Stakes odds, cross-reference official entries at BUSR, where you can pull full past performances and official scratches as they come in through race day.
Talkin is one of the most quietly dangerous horses in the 2026 Preakness field at 20-1. The Good Magic colt trained by Danny Gargan has raced at Belmont at Aqueduct, Aqueduct, Keeneland, Saratoga, and Tampa Bay Downs — a wider geographic footprint than almost any other horse in this field — and has produced competitive figures at every level. He finished third in the Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland with a 110 figure behind Further Ado, ran second in the 2025 Champagne (G1) behind Napoleon Solo with a 112, and opened his career with a 115 MSW win at Saratoga. Irad Ortiz Jr. takes the mount from post 5 at 20-1. That combination alone demands attention.
What makes Talkin's case particularly compelling is his Blue Grass third. He finished behind Further Ado (127) and Ottinho (113) — and ahead of Great White, who is also in this Preakness field. His 110 figure in that race was a slight regression from his 112 Champagne second, but the Blue Grass was a Grade I against arguably the deepest field of the prep season. A horse who can run 110 in that spot, with a 115 debut win and a 112 Grade I runner-up to his name, at 20-1 with Irad Ortiz Jr., deserves to be taken seriously before building your Preakness Stakes betting ticket.
| Date | Track | Race Type | Distance | Surface | Finish | 1st Place (Fig) | 2nd Place | 3rd Place | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4/4/26 | KEE | G1 | 1 1/8M | Dirt-Fast | 3rd (110) | Further Ado (127) | Ottinho (113) | Talkin (110) | 1:49.58 |
| 3/7/26 | TAM | G3 | 1 1/16M | Dirt-Fast | 5th (103) | The Puma (110) | Further Ado (109) | Canaletto (109) | 1:43.23 |
| 12/6/25 | AQU | G2 | 1 1/8M | Dirt-Fast | 9th (84) | Paladin (108) | Renegade (106) | Balboa (105) | 1:50.97 |
| 10/4/25 | BAQ | G1 | 1M | Dirt-Fast | 2nd (112) | Napoleon Solo (121) | Talkin (112) | Universe (111) | 1:34.57 |
| 8/30/25 | SAR | Msw | 7F | Dirt-Fast | 1st (115) | Talkin (115) | Stradale (114) | Further Ado (104) | 1:23.63 |
Post 5 is the ideal draw for a late closer in this field. Talkin does not need to be near the front early, so the inside position gives him a short path to the rail and the ability to save ground through both turns. Irad Ortiz Jr. is one of the most patient and tactically intelligent jockeys in racing — he knows how to position a closer in a mid-field stalking spot and time the run to perfection. From post 5, Ortiz can drop in behind the speed horses, conserve energy through the first turn, and make one sustained run through the stretch as the front-runners tire against each other.
The Remsen ninth (84) at Aqueduct is the number that keeps Talkin at 20-1 despite his otherwise compelling resume. That result was a dramatic collapse that requires explanation. His Blue Grass third four months later — running 110 in a Grade I — suggests the Remsen was either a bad trip, an off day, or a physical issue that has since resolved. The trajectory before and after the Remsen is consistent and improving. At 20-1, the market is penalizing him for that one result more than the rest of his form warrants. That is where the value lives.
Talkin's pace scenario is the clearest in this field: he needs the front-runners to fight each other, and he needs Ortiz to find a clean path in the stretch. This field delivers both requirements. Taj Mahal at post 1, Chip Honcho at post 6, Napoleon Solo at post 10, and Corona de Oro at post 11 all project as early speed. If two or three of those horses contest honest early fractions, the final quarter mile opens up for a closer with a 115 debut figure and a 112 Grade I runner-up on his resume. Post 5 puts Talkin in the best possible position to exploit that scenario — he saves ground on the inside, avoids traffic, and arrives with energy in the final turn.
The head-to-head record against Napoleon Solo is directly relevant. Talkin ran second to Napoleon Solo in the Champagne when Napoleon Solo was at 121. Napoleon Solo has been declining ever since — 110, 106, 96. If Napoleon Solo is the horse his current figures suggest, Talkin at 20-1 is the better bet with a cleaner draw and a more consistent recent form line. The Blue Grass, third behind Further Ado, finishing ahead of Great White, who is in this field, is the most recent benchmark, and it holds up well. Check the Belmont Stakes betting guide for Triple Crown ticket planning this spring.
Here is the practical breakdown for how sharp bettors should think about using Talkin on a ticket at 20-1.
Win Single: Strong case at 20-1. A 115 debut, a Champagne second at 112, a Blue Grass third at 110, Irad Ortiz Jr., and the cleanest closer draw in the race — Talkin is arguably the most undervalued horse on the board. A win single at this price is entirely justified.
Exacta: Talkin on top with Iron Honor or Incredibolt underneath. Two closers finishing 1-2 in a pace-collapse is the highest-probability outcome if the speed horses burn each other out. An exacta at $2 base costs $4.
Trifecta: Talkin on top is one of the most cost-effective trifecta structures in the race at 20-1. A $1 trifecta wheel with Iron Honor and Incredibolt underneath gives you top-quality coverage at a price that pays a significant number if he fires.
Superfecta: Talkin in first and second positions across multiple $0.10 superfecta combinations. At 20-1 his presence anywhere in the top four delivers substantial leverage. Check the full horse betting guide for structuring exotic tickets efficiently.
For multi-leg plays across the Triple Crown, visit the bet on Preakness Stakes page and the Triple Crown bonus page at US Racing.
I got Talkin in the Preakness Future Pool at 50/1 and he's getting First Time Irad. Didn't have to pay the Irad tax in the future pool, but his distance limitations scare me.
Talkin odds for the Preakness, Position and Implications
Purely on vibes I guess: Talkin The Hell We Did Corona d'Oro Although Taj Mahal and Pretty Boy Miah could become a Wild Card too
Talkin opened at 20-1 on the morning line for the 151st Preakness Stakes at Laurel Park on May 16, 2026. He drew post position 5 in the 14-horse field. The 20-1 reflects the Remsen ninth-place finish but significantly undervalues his Blue Grass third, Champagne second, and the Irad Ortiz Jr. booking.
Talkin is trained by Danny Gargan and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. from post 5 at Laurel Park. Ortiz Jr. is consistently ranked among the top two or three jockeys in American racing, and his booking on a 20-1 shot is a meaningful positive signal that connections genuinely believe in this horse's ability.
Talkin is a strong win single at 20-1 and the best trifecta key among the double-digit prices in the field. Pair him on top with Iron Honor and Incredibolt underneath for a pace-collapse structure. At 20-1 the trifecta payout is substantial even with shorter-priced horses in the second and third slots. Visit the BC free bet page at US Racing for current promotions.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
