Brittany Russell to Saddle Taj Mahal in Preakness Stakes at Laurel Park

Brittany Russell has the chance to become the third woman to train a winner in each of the Triple Crown races when she sends out Taj Mahal in the 151st running of the Preakness Stakes on Saturday. The race is being run for the first time at the Maryland track, which is Russell's home base.

Her husband, Sheldon Russell, will ride Taj Mahal, creating the possibility of the first husband-and-wife trainer-jockey combination to win a Triple Crown race. “It would sort of feel probably a little fairy-tale-like,” Russell said. “Jena opened the door just a couple years ago with Arcangelo, and Cherie got it done in the Kentucky Derby.

” Taj Mahal opened at odds of 5-1, second choice in a wide-open field of 14 that does not include the Kentucky Derby winner. The horse is unbeaten in three races at Laurel Park, most recently winning the Federico Tesio Stakes on April 18 by more than eight lengths while leading wire to wire.

The Preakness will be contested at Laurel Park, located just off Interstate 95 between Baltimore and Washington, D.C. The Russells regularly bring their children, 6-year-old daughter Edy and 4-year-old son Rye, to the track on weekends. Both children are expected to attend the race.

The couple's previous trip to a major event with the children came at the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar in Southern California in fall 2024. Their horse Post Time, trained by Brittany and ridden by Sheldon, finished second in a world championship dirt mile.

Sheldon Russell told The Associated Press that the children are more familiar with racing now and will not need to travel for this event.

Russell has ridden in the Preakness three previous times, finishing fifth in 2023, sixth in 2020 and 10th in 2011. This marks Brittany Russell's first Preakness starter in her eighth year as a trainer. Sheldon said the couple has not focused on the larger historical implications.

“He’s sort of taken us there,” Sheldon Russell told The Associated Press. ” Brittany Russell noted that her husband rides most of her horses, allowing them to review replays and discuss strategy together. Taj Mahal has won all three of his races under Sheldon Russell.

She described the partnership as generally positive despite occasional challenges inherent to the sport. “Most of the time, it’s great,” Brittany Russell said. “He knows the horse. He’s won on it three times. He knows the racetrack better than anybody.

” Maryland Jockey Club president and CEO Bill Knauf said the manner of Taj Mahal's Federico Tesio victory immediately drew attention. Knauf added that Brittany Russell has been the leading trainer at the track for several years. Taj Mahal will face a field described as wide open.

The favorite is Iron Honor. A victory by Taj Mahal would complete a sweep of female trainers across the three Triple Crown races within a three-year span.