The 2006 Preakness Stakes was the 131st running of the Preakness Stakes thoroughbred horse race. The race took place on May 20, 2006, and was televised in the United States on the NBC television network. Bernardini, who was jockeyed by Javier Castellano, won the race by five and one quarter lengths over runner-up Sweetnorthernsaint. Approximate post time was 6:19 p.m. Eastern Time. The race was run over a fast track in a final time of 1:54.65. The Maryland Jockey Club reported total attendance of 128,643, this is recorded as second highest on the list of American thoroughbred racing top attended events for North America in 2006.