I've been watching and re watching the last efforts of the Preakness field over and over all morning. I'm at an impasse and I'm hoping someone more astute than myself can explain the Wood #'s compared to those of the Ark Derby.

Mainly how is it possible that CC went forward 2 points off that (non) effort in the Wood? He wasn't even in the screen at the wire? Furthermore he was all out under as heavy a whip as I've seen in a long time to continue on and beat True Timber for the show spot? True Timber isn't a top 3 betting choice in the Sir Barton Stakes on today's under card.

CC ran in the clear after going 3W the whole entire backstretch, went 3W again on the far turn and continued on under heavy urging "evenly" I guess? Zero trouble, to my eye almost zero running?

Compare that effort to that of the top two finishers in the Ark Derby? CMM broke from 11, was 4 wide the first turn and continued wide battling two others for the lead. Petrov was backed off while CMM and a bomb continued to engage for the entire first half mile fighting for the lead. As soon as he overtakes the 80-1 shot, Malagacy comes up on his outside and heads him. CMM instantly fights back and retakes the lead, they continue to do serious battle into and through the stretch. I'd point out that while CMM was bobbing around all over the place, each time was when he and Malagacy bumped into each other. They banged into one another and CMM veared away from the contact. This happened twice in the stretch run, likely the difference between winning and losing by a half length at the wire. CMM was under heavy pressure and running all out the entire way, zero breaks.

The winner CE, had a tough trip himself, but I'd argue CMM ran the better race. Either way, they both got the same #, 2 points slower than CC in the Wood? I have a hard time rationalizing this? Especially when you look at how the Wood form has held up going forward? What am I missing? This would seem to be pretty important today, I need some help with this one..