Napoleon Solo conquers Preakness

Winless since a romping triumph in October’s Champagne (G1), Gold Square (Al Gold)’s Napoleon Solo returned to form in Saturday’s 151st running of the $2 million Preakness (G1). The gray colt prompted a fast early pace, advanced to a clear lead in upper stretch, and turned back a challenge from runner-up Iron Honor to score by 1 1/4 lengths. 

The second leg of the Triple Crown was held at Laurel Park while Pimlico undergoes reconstruction, and Napoleon Solo provided his connection with their first Triple Crown race win. Paco Lopez was up for Chad Summers on the gray son of Liam’s Map.

Off as the 7.90-1 fourth choice among 14 runners, Napoleon Solo completed 1 3/16 miles in 1:58.69.

After winning his first two starts last year, Napoleon Solo was given the winter off. His three-year-old return did not go smoothly, sustaining his first career defeat, finishing a well-beaten fifth in February’s Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park, but Napoleon Solo began to turn things around with an encouraging fifth in the Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct, giving way grudgingly after forcing blistering early fractions.

Napoleon Solo trained forwardly during the seven-week interim leading up to the Preakness and delivered a career-best performance to earn his first two-turn win, improving his overall ledger to 5-3-0-0. He’s now earned more than $1.5 million.

Taj Mahal, the 9-2 favorite, sped forward to show the way on short lead while Napoleon Solo tracked in second through quick opening fractions in :22.66 and :46.66. The pace backed down on the backstretch, with Taj Mahal reaching the six-furlong mark in 1:12.08, and Napoleon Solo started to reel in the pacesetter nearing the completion of the far turn, powering his way to the lead while straightening for home.

Grade 3 winner Iron Honor, seventh as the favorite in the Wood Memorial, made a run at Napoleon Solo in deep stretch but lacked the necessary finishing kick, settling for second at 8-1. It was 3 1/4 lengths to Chip Honcho in third, and Ocelli came next in fourth. Incredibolt, the 5-1 second choice, wound fifth and was followed by Bull by the Horns, The Hell We Did, Great White, Robusta, Taj Mahal, Corona de Oro, Talkin, Crupper, and Pretty Boy Miah.

Bred in Kentucky by John D. Gunther and Eurowest Bloodstock, Napoleon Solo sold for $40,000 to his connections as a yearling at the 2024 Keeneland September sale. He’s the first stakes winner out of the Scat Daddy mare Atomic Blonde, a turf stakes winner, and this is the same cross (sire and broodmare sire) as Grade 1 winner Burnham Square, who recently established himself as a contender for this fall’s Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1), recording an impressive Grade 2 win on Keeneland’s turf.

Napoleon Solo appears certain to remain on the main track for the near future, with the Belmont (G1) at Saratoga being a serious option in three weeks. 

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