Street Sense made the winning move last Saturday in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, and will now need to summon a similar effort if he is to take down the second leg of racing’s Triple Crown in Baltimore.

Those that were fans of either Hard Spun or Curlin certainly can’t be disappointed with what they saw in Louisville.

For Hard Spun, the Derby marked his first start in six weeks, and after setting a strong pace, Hard Spun held very well through the lane, and even appeared strong on the gallop-out. The shorter distance of the Preakness with its tighter turns should play to his favor, and Mario Pino certainly knows his way around the Pimlico oval.

Curlin ran very credibly considering he came in lacking the seasoning of those that finished ahead of him, and found himself inside and behind many more horses than he has been in any of his previous races, yet still put in a good surge through the lane to rally for third. The Derby could prove exactly the kind of race that catches Curlin up with his rivals, and sets the stage for an appetizing Preakness.