The backstory behind any winner of a Triple Crown race is usually a well-woven tale of pedigree, family tradition and a bit of pop culture.

Napoleon Solo was no different on Saturday.

The 3-year-old (7-1 odds) took over the lead by passing race favorite Taj Mahal and holding off Iron Honor to win the Preakness Stakes, which was held at Laurel Park while Pimlico Park undergoes a $400 million overhaul.

It was the first Triple Crown race win for a trio with New Jersey connections—owner Al Gold, trainer Chad Summers and Monmouth Park’s leading jockey, Paco Lopez. Summers fell in love with the sport after going to races with his father, Scott, at Belmont Park and shifted to training in 2017 after starting out as a writer for a handful of racing outlets. Napoleon Solo was his first Preakness entry.

“We had a lot of critics out there that told us to just shut up,” Summers said during NBC’s broadcast just moments after the finish. “We just kept with it and kept with it and it worked out today.” When asked what his response would be to those critics now, Summers smiled and responded, “Shut up.”

Taj Mahal, who was the favorite at 9-2, broke out from the rail position to take the early lead and set a fast pace—reaching the first quarter-mile in 22.66. Early on, it looked promising for the hometown horse. Trainer Brittney Russell, who is based at Laurel Park, was looking to become the first woman trainer to win the Preakness after Cherie Devaux accomplished the same history at this year’s Kentucky Derby with Golden Tempo. But jockey Sheldon Russell, Brittney’s husband, couldn’t keep Taj Mahal up to pace with the charging Napoleon Solo.

All Napoleon Solo had to do was hold off a late challenge by Iron Honor and he kept his pace to win by 1 ¼ lengths in 1:58.69. Chip Honcho was third. The top three horses did not run in the Derby two weeks ago.

It was a strong bounce back to form after Napoleon Solo finished fifth in the Fountain of Youth and Wood Memorial races and earning his first victory of 2026 on Saturday. He paid $17.80 on a $2 ticket.

“Everyone said he wasn’t as good as he was in the Champagne,” Summers told reporters after the race, referring to his horse’s 6 ½-length win back at Aqueduct in October. “This was a win here. People will say it wasn’t against the best of the best. We’ll find out the rest of the year.”

That “rest of the year” plan should include the Belmont Stakes on June 6. Summers told NBC that his team would get ready for the finale, where the best bet will be a Triple Crown two-fer. Golden Tempo was not entered into the Preakness due to the short two-week turnaround but is expected to race in the Belmont.

Both New Jersey natives, Summers asked Gold to buy Napoleon Solo at a 2024 auction. A lover of sports and old television shows, the owner paid $40,000 and named the horse after a character from one of his favorites, the 1960s TV spy series, “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.”

“He’s the best,” Gold said of his trainer. “He wanted this. This is his dream. He loves the game and I’m really happy for him.” He then turned to his trainer and joked, “Hey, I am saying nice things about you, pay attention.”

The 14-horse Preakness field was the largest since 2011 (also 14 entrants) and included three horses—Ocelli (7-1), Incredibolt (5-1) and Robusta (25-1)—that also competed in the Kentucky Derby.

It was a more subdued atmosphere at Laurel Park, with Saturday’s attendance was capped at 4,800 with no fans in the infield.