CTB is my derby horse. I jumped on him in the second derby futures pool with both feet, and now, for better or worse, it looks like he'll be in the field. Maria's Mon gave us the stretch-running gray Monarchos, I'm hoping to see this stretch-running gray in the winner's circle too.

Something visually about CTB's consistent and decisive closing moves told me this is a Derby contender. However, we've not seen that move outside of CA, nor at a distance beyond 1 1/16.

I've struggled to explain what happened at Hawthorne. Most observers will point to that race and conclude that Cause is not good enough to run with these, and/or that added ground is not in his favor. Of course that may turn out to be the correct conclusion, but I'll take solace in knowing the horse was placed much too close to a soft early pace. That will not be the case in Louisville.