Derby also-rans can rebound in Preakness

Bottom line is, Derby Day just wasn’t their day.

For a not-insignificant number of Preakness winners, the disappointment of their efforts two weeks beforehand in the Kentucky Derby sometimes has been difficult to rationalize. Some, such as Snow Chief (1986), Point Given (2001), and Lookin At Lucky (2010), were victimized by pace or trip. Others, such as Hansel (1991) and Tabasco Cat (1994), supposedly didn’t care for the Churchill Downs surface. Still others, such as Tank’s Prospect (1985) and Shackleford (2011), just plain weren’t good enough.

Ten of the last 30 Preakness winners ran fourth or worse in the Derby, and yet all was forgiven and forgotten a couple of weeks later at Pimlico. Four starters in the 137th running of the Preakness on Saturday are in similar situations: Went the Day Well (fourth in the Derby), Creative Cause (fifth), Daddy Nose Best (10th), and Optimizer (11th).