Taj Mahal earned his way into the Grade 1, $2,000,000 Preakness Stakes, the second jewel of the Triple Crown, with a dominant performance Saturday in the $150,000 Federico Tesio Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles at Laurel Park.
“This is our horse. He was awesome today. The jockey did a good job,” beamed winning trainer Brittany Russell, who had a four-win afternoon on Saturday’s 12-race “Preakness Preview Day” program.
“The jockey” is Brittany’s husband, Sheldon Russell, who won three races and sent Taj Mahal to the lead from the far outside post in the ten-horse Federico Tesio.
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Showing brilliant early foot, Taj Mahal cleared to the rail before the halfway point of the clubhouse turn and opened a four-length lead after an opening quarter in 23.93 seconds.
“The outside post is always going to be a worry,” Sheldon Russell said. “I’ve rode a lot of races here, and I’ve lost a lot from that outside post. The goal was not to make the lead because we had the outside post. The plan was that this might be the race where something else does the dirty work, and he looms outside. He warmed up like he was going to break out of there and do something. He was there for me the second, third, fourth jump, and he wouldn’t stop until he got across.”
Freewheeling on the backstretch, Taj Mahal was ten lengths ahead of a shell-shocked Volendam after a half-mile clocking of 47.80 seconds.
Russell allowed the colt a breather entering the far turn. They completed six furlongs in 1:14.30, but that brought Volendam, Wild Warrior, and Let’s Go Lando into contention.
For a second, it looked like Taj Mahal’s tank was empty, but in the blink of an eye, he found another gear. Amid the crowd’s oohs and aahs, Taj Mahal bounded home, 8 ¼ lengths better than Wild Warrior, in 1:52.92 on the fast track.
“At the half-mile pole, he took a deep breath, and I knew once I could hear them coming, I could rev him back up,” Sheldon Russell said.
Let’s Go Lando finished third, 1 ¼ lengths behind stablemate Wild Warrior. Volendam, Hixon, Code of Silence, Higher Sense, Close the Gate, Classic Nofty, and Chayton followed.
Favored Taj Mahal returned $4.40 to win.
Tesio Winner Son of Nyquist
Bred in Florida by Vegso Racing Stable, Taj Mahal is a bay colt by Nyquist, out of stakes-placed Oola Gal, by Quality Road. Purchased for $525,000 as a yearling, Taj Mahal is owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Bashor Racing, Determined Stables, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan.
Taj Mahal began his career with Bob Baffert in Southern California, but was transferred to Brittany Russell before a winning debut at six furlongs on February 6.
“We sprinted him because he showed us signs that he was ready to run,” Sheldon Russell said. “He didn’t get away the best. He was all class. You could tell from that day he was something special.”
Taj Mahal was then immediately tested in the Miracle Wood Stakes at one mile and came through with flying colors, beating Let’s Go Lando by a neck in a furious stretch drive.
“It was on 13 days rest, and he blew me away that day how game he was,” Sheldon Russell said of the Miracle Wood.
Russell Skips Wood to Goto Tesio
Taj Mahal was scheduled to run in Aqueduct’s Grade 2 Wood Memorial on April 4, but the Russells opted to wait for the Federico Tesio.
“We had a very minor setback [that forced us to miss the Wood], and I’m so thankful that [the owners] let me take my time,” Brittany Russell said as she welcomed Taj Mahal to the winner’s circle.
Named for the noted Italian breeder, owner, and trainer whose homebreds Nearco and Ribot dominate Thoroughbred bloodlines worldwide. A total of 24 Tesio winners have run in the Preakness, with the most recent being Pay Billy in 2025. Maryland-bred Deputed Testamony is the only horse to sweep both races, accomplishing the feat in 1983.
The Preakness Stakes will be held at Laurel Park on May 16.
