As activity picked up at the Pimlico Race Course stakes barn May 16, Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands winner Always Dreaming went out earlier than normal for his daily exercise.

If the aim was to cut down on the bit of excitement Always Dreaming displayed during his gallop the day before, that mission was accomplished by the Bodemeister colt, who will likely be the post-time favorite for the May 20 Preakness Stakes.

Unlike his prior gallop – when trainer Todd Pletcher said the colt gave him "a little fright" with some on-track bucks and a slight stumble – Always Dreaming was calm and collected from the barn to the track and through his 1 ½-mile gallop under exercise rider Nick Bush.

"It couldn't have gone any smoother," Pletcher said of the exercise under the orange glow of the rising sun. "We went out at 5:30 (a.m. Eastern) and we're going to paddock school at 11 a.m. Not a whole lot to talk about, really, other than we're really, really happy.

"Yesterday was a little different environment, [which] maybe had him a little fired up. I'm not sure. Today was perfect. There was a little more activity around, but it didn't seem to faze him."

"I don't know if it was [moving up the gallop], or if it was just a day where he was feeling good, but he was definitely more relaxed going around there," Bush added.

The morning’s increased activity was due to Pletcher's own string of horses preparing for starts at Pimlico this week, as well as trainer Mark Casse's contingent – including John Oxley's 2-year-old champion male of 2016, Classic Empire – which made its way to the track for the first time Tuesday.

Classic Empire, the fourth-place Derby finisher, jogged and then impressed his exercise rider, Martin Rivera, with his strength and aggressiveness during a gallop.

"He came back a little bit more aggressive after the Derby," Rivera said. "And I know he's aggressive anyway. I liked the way he went today. This is probably the best he ever worked this year."

That sentiment was shared by assistant trainer Norman Casse, who is overseeing the training at Pimlico.

"He certainly is [more aggressive than he was at Churchill Downs]," Norman Casse said. "Even after the Derby, his attitude has changed a little bit. He's more aggressive. He's more on the bridle. Today was obviously his first day out here, and most of the time, in my opinion, horses come out and are looking around, and they aren't so much on the bridle. But he was really on the bridle today and I think that's all very encouraging."

"I think he really liked the racetrack, but more importantly his attitude is where it needs to be. He's ready to run another race."

Seventh-place Derby finisher Gunnevera also went through his first Pimlico gallop May 16, after a jogging session the day before. The Peacock Racing Stables-owned Dialed In colt certainly wasn't in any hurry, as he loped through a mile gallop, but trainer Antonio Sano was happy with the exercise.

"I'm so happy," Sano said. "[He'll have an] open gallop tomorrow, for the last three furlongs."

Also on the track May 16 after his overnight arrival was Judge Lanier Racing's Conquest Mo Money, who skipped the Kentucky Derby – even though he had enough qualifying points to run in the race after second-place finishes in the Sunland Derby and Arkansas Derby – in favor of running in the Preakness.

Under regular jockey Jorge Carreno, the Uncle Mo colt separated himself from the pack in the overall composure category. Without the need of a lead pony, Conquest Mo Money made his way out to the main track alone and without incident, galloped a mile, and calmly returned to his stall in the Pimlico stakes barn.

"The plan was just to do two laps jogging, but today [trainer Miguel Hernandez] said, 'Let's gallop him a mile,'" Carreno said. "He felt good. He liked the track today. Coming back I just was trying to let him get to know the track. ... He's so calm. He doesn't get too excited about anything."

A frequent topic of discussion Tuesday morning was the upcoming post-position draw May 17, and both Pletcher and Norman Casse expressed a similar outlook.

"I have a new perspective on the draw, because we thought the 14 hole was perfect at Churchill and that ended up being a disaster," Norman Casse said of Classic Empire's eventful start in the Kentucky Derby. "I think, ideally, we'd like to be outside Always Dreaming, but other than that, I'm not overly concerned. I mean, we were elated with the 14 hole and it ended up being our undoing. You just don't know how the other horses are going to break."

"When we were looking at the Derby draw, we wanted Always Dreaming [outside], but it turned out he got a better trip from where he was (in post 5). ... I don't think anybody is going to fret too much over the draw," Pletcher said. "Sometimes you don't know – it depends on how the track is playing on a particular day – whether the inside is better, whether the outside is better, or if speed is better. But as far as the post position in this field – I don't think it's nearly as critical as it is in the Derby."