Goldencents and jockey Kevin Krigger could prove to be a formidable team in Preakness 138 (Harold Roth/Horsephotos.com)

Trainer Doug O'Neill sent Santa Anita Derby winner Goldencents out for his usual 8:30 a.m. (EDT) gallop and a brief schooling session in the paddock Wednesday at Pimlico.

The trainer of last year's Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, I'll Have Another, said his confidence is returning to the level that it was at Churchill Downs prior to Goldencents' disappointing 17th-place finish in the Derby over a sloppy, sealed racetrack.

"We were definitely disappointed with our effort in the Kentucky Derby," said the 44-year-old Southern California-based conditioner. "We thought we were coming into it in good shape, but we think it was the track. You've got a different track here, a shorter stretch and tighter turns. Our guy is doing really well here. And with a smaller field (nine) and good weather, I think we can turn the tables on Orb."

Jockey Kevin Krigger, who came to Baltimore with Goldencents three days after the May 4 Derby, believes his decision to stay East will pay dividends.

A sleepy-eyed Goldencents relaxed during his morning bath on the Pimlico backstretch (Harold Roth/Horsephotos.com)

Jockey Kevin Krigger, who came to Baltimore with Goldencents three days after the May 4 Derby, believes his decision to stay East will pay dividends.

"It is a different vibe, but it's a good vibe," O'Neill said. "I think it's all good pressure really. Everyone here in management is so kind to us and has bent over backwards to make us feel at home. The Derby and Belmont are corporate events. There's more of a small-town feeling here and it's easier to relax and enjoy it."

Dealing with the Derby disappointment is also becoming easier for him.

"It's tough because we know how competitive and how tough Goldencents is, but it's the first time Goldencents has ever been in that scenario where he was getting a lot of kickback (mud in his face)," O'Neill said. "That wasn't one of your standard wet-fast kind of tracks. It was almost like peanut butter out there, and you could see that the horses that were involved early ended up being in the back of the pack and the horses that were in the back of the pack early ended up being first at the wire."

Goldencents, who has three stakes victories on his resume, had never been worse than fourth in any of his previous six starts before the Derby. He won the Delta Downs Jackpot as a two-year-old and the Sham in his three-year-old debut in January.

"This business is definitely full of a lot more losses than wins," O'Neill said. "So you celebrate all the wins and it re-energizes you."

O'Neill said he plans to sit down with Krigger and review old tapes of Preaknesses past, much like he did last year with I'll Have Another's rider, Mario Gutierrez.

Itsmyluckyday struck a pose for the cameras on a sunny Pimlico morning (Harold Roth/Horsephotos.com)

Itsmyluckyday, who was vanned from Monmouth Park Tuesday, visited the racetrack at Pimlico Wednesday morning for a light jog.

"He was great. We couldn't have asked for any better," said Frankie Perez, assistant to trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. "He's been giving us 110 percent training-wise. He's happy. He was happy arriving here (Tuesday) and he's doing great. He's ready to run."

The Gulfstream Park Derby and Holy Bull winner, who finished 15th in the Kentucky Derby, will be ridden for the first time by John Velazquez.

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert is convinced that Govenor Charlie is ready for the Preakness and is capable of giving him his sixth victory in the middle jewel of the Triple Crown.

Lightly raced Govenor Charlie will try to emulate his grandsire, Real Quiet, with a Preakness win (Sunland Park/Coady Photography)

Baffert said Wednesday that Govenor Charlie must turn in a big performance at Pimlico to be a big factor in the Preakness.

"He needs to run his race back that he ran at Sunland," Baffert said. "I think if he runs that race back, he's going to be very, very competitive. That's the way he's been training. It's a different group of horses he's running with and it's a classic, but he's bred to run that far."

Govenor Charlie's grandsire, Real Quiet, won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness in 1998. His second dam is Hall of Famer Silverbulletday, whose 15 career victories included a victory in the Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico.

Departing will seek to give historic Claiborne Farm its first victory in the Preakness (Mike Kane/Maryland Jockey Club)

Regular exercise rider Trina Pasckvale was aboard for the morning activity for Departing, who was scheduled to fly to Baltimore Wednesday afternoon.

Trainer Al Stall Jr. said the trip to the gate was a normal part of Departing's routine.

"He was fine in there. He stood in there for about a minute and a half and he never has had an issue that I have noticed," Stall said. "You have to do your homework before you take the test."

Stall expected to be in Baltimore for Wednesday afternoon's Preakness post-position draw.

"The draw does not matter, because there is going to be speed in there," Stall said. "Goldencents, Titletown Five, Oxbow -- I know they will be in front of us."

Mylute jogged a mile shortly after the track opened at Churchill Downs Wednesday morning before boarding a plane bound for Baltimore.