Who Did the Derby Gods Frown On The Most and Why

[Calzone Lord]

Union Rags was 7th -- he split 6th place finisher Liason and 8th place finisher Rousing Sermon.

All of his early trouble was fairly minor and overrated.

A lot of times horses who have trouble like that in race shapes like that run as well or even a little better than they would have with a clear trip.

Bird Town, when she upset the Kentucky Oaks for instance, got jammed back at the start and lost a lot of position. The trouble was a blessing in disguise because it got her trapped and forced her back behind a hot pace that she otherwise would have been attending.