Atoned looked like a winner in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) when he opened up a 1 1/2-length lead in the stretch before Big Truck came charging down the lane to just get up for a neck victory.
It was the fourth consecutive stakes race in which Atoned finished second.
The Repent colt made his stakes race debut last year with a victory in the Continental Mile Stakes at Monmouth Park, but then came up a bridesmaid in the Whirling Ash Stakes and Dover Stakes, both at Delaware Park, and Aqueduct's Remsen Stakes (G2).
Atoned's Remsen loss, in which he was beaten a neck by Court Vision, was particularly impressive since Atoned stumbled badly in a run down the backstretch, rallied going three-wide in the second turn and drew away in the stretch, just getting nipped at the wire.
"I can't say enough about the horse's effort," said Seth Benzel, assistant to trainer Todd Pletcher, after the Remsen. "To almost go to his nose coming out of the first turn, and fight on like that and lose by a head, it's just an unbelievable effort."
While his 2008 debut in the Tampa Bay Derby continued the runner-up streak, it was a solid performance that enhanced his status as a possible contender for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1).
Pletcher said he would work out a plan for Atoned with the owners, but left the Derby door open when asked if that might be in the plan.
"That could be," Pletcher said. "That could be."