Maiden Ocelli Validates Derby Performance with Preakness Opportunity
LAUREL, Md. – While third place in the Kentucky Derby falls short of victory, Whit Beckman and the Ocelli team found considerable satisfaction in their maiden colt’s 70-1 performance in the 152nd Run for the Roses two weeks ago at Churchill Downs.
The Connect colt, who gained entry from the also-eligible list just 48 hours before post time, delivered a remarkable rally under Tyler Gaffalione. Advancing from 17th position, Ocelli briefly seized the lead inside the sixteenth pole before Golden Tempo and Renegade swept past, leaving him one length behind at the wire.
“Once the dust settled and all things considered and you look at the charts and you look at the ground covered, he ran a really, really, really good race – a winning race,” Beckman reflected. “I won’t say it’s as good as winning, but it was a lot of validation for everything that we had really put in in terms of faith and confidence in this horse. But for a second there it was like ‘[damn], I could have won this race.'”
Quick Recovery Changes Plans
Beckman’s previous Derby experiences with Honor Marie (2024) and Flying Mohawk (2025) initially discouraged Triple Crown continuation. However, Tuesday morning found the trainer at Laurel Park—hosting the 151st Preakness while Pimlico undergoes renovation—after Ocelli’s exceptional recovery altered those plans.
“A lot of horses, they run at 7 o’clock at night, you put them back in the stall, they’re not going to finish their food,” Beckman explained. “He had his head out of his stall ready to go the next morning, cleaned his feed tub. Brought him out, he was just bouncing around the shed row.”
Following three walk days, Ocelli’s May 6 jog session confirmed his readiness. “It was apparent that horse was not knocked back by the experience,” Beckman noted.
Stakes Experience Without Victory
The winless colt brings a 0-for-7 record but valuable stakes experience to the Preakness. After sixth-place finishes in Tampa Bay Downs’ Sam Davis Stakes and Colonial Downs’ Virginia Derby left him a 28-1 outsider for Aqueduct’s Grade 1 Wood Memorial, Beckman made a crucial equipment change.
Believing Ocelli attempted to look around his blinkers in the Virginia Derby, disrupting his momentum, Beckman removed them for the Wood. The adjustment paid dividends as Ocelli rallied late for third, missing second by a nose but falling short of automatic Derby qualification points.
Late Entry Drama
Ocelli sat second on the Derby also-eligible list when entries closed. The uncertainty created an unusual dynamic during Derby week until his late inclusion.
“At that point, it kind of set in, now we need to worry about [stuff] we weren’t worrying about before,” Beckman recalled.
Historical Context
Ocelli’s Derby third represents the best finish among 14 maidens attempting the race since 1937. The Preakness historically saw six maiden winners between 1873-1888, but modern attempts prove rare.
Equibase research reveals Ocelli becomes just the fifth maiden Preakness starter since 1980. Bing finished fifth at 63-1 in 1980, while 2019’s Bodexpress infamously unseated John Velazquez at the start after placing 13th in the Derby.
Respect Earned
Listed at 5-1 for Saturday’s Preakness—a race missing both Derby winner Golden Tempo and runner-up Renegade—Ocelli’s odds reflect newfound respect in the 14-horse field.
“The horse proved he’s not a 70-1-type horse against these fields,” Beckman asserted. “He’s always been one we knew in the morning was a highly talented animal, had a ton of ability. He always did everything the right way, always came out of his works the way a good horse would, always handled himself the way a good horse would. Now 5-1, 6-1, it’s a more fair representation of him now that everyone’s been able to witness it. But it’s not surprising to me.”
