Preakness candidate Cozzetti, fourth in the Arkansas Derby, worked a bullet five furlongs in :58 4/5 yesterday at Churchill Downs, galloping out six furlongs in 1:12 2/5 and seven in 1:27 2/5 for trainer Dale Romans, who won last year’s Preakness with Shackleford.

Also at Churchill, Optimizer, 11th in the Derby, breezed four furlongs in :49 4/5 for Hall-of-Famer D. Wayne Lukas, who’s saddled five Preakness winners.

* The two significant defections yesterday were Hansen, whose connections did not want to run him back in two weeks after finishing ninth in the Derby, and Derby Trial winner Hierro, who has never raced longer than a mile.

Hierro’s trainer, Steve Asmussen, could still have a starter in the Preakness, as Daddy Nose Best, who finished 10th as the “wise guy” horse in the Derby, is under consideration after working a half-mile in :53 over a sloppy track yesterday at Churchill.