Once again the Red Sea parted. ROCK YOUR WORLD got crushed at the start. MIDNIGHT BOURBON wasn’t sent, despite intimations he would. Once again the trainer in North American racing who best understands how to use speed as a weapon, and how to train to win the Kentucky Derby – not to merely participate in the Derby – won America’s biggest race, using tactics that were a carbon copy of what happened last time this race was run, eight months ago. As with Authentic, whose ability to handle 1 1/4 miles was questioned, MEDINA SPIRIT led from start to finish under John Velazquez on Saturday at Churchill Downs, as those seemingly best able to impact his chances were unwilling or unable to do so. Perhaps it was because Medina Spirit was the last one standing for trainer Bob Baffert after more highly regarded runners like Life Is Good and Concert Tour went to the sidelines, but he was obviously overlooked by his competition, despite a terrific record heading into the race. Medina Spirit had proven his tenacity with a gritty win in the Robert Lewis earlier this year, fending off the likes of HOT ROD CHARLIE after taking the worst of it from a pace standpoint, and he was a respectable second in the Santa Anita Derby to Rock Your World, racing wide and outside over a track that favored horses who were forwardly and inside, like Rock Your World. Medina Spirit headed into the Derby having run five times and having lost to just two horses, one of whom – Life Is Good -- wasn’t even in the race, the other of whom was one of the top choices. But despite his Hall of Fame trainer and rider, his rivals apparently thought he’d come back to them. Medina Spirit jumped sharply and established the lead, with SOUP AND SANDWICH closest. He was kept a few lanes off the rail, Velazquez obviously cognizant of the track profile earlier in the day, going back to when he rode Gamine. There was little positional change the whole way around. Soup and Sandwich faded to last, and HELIUM, who was surprisingly close early, tired to be eighth, but the other top finishers were always prominent. The top four into the lane finished 1-2-3-4, never changing positions the final quarter-mile. Medina Spirit is a scrawny thing, but he’s got plenty of heart. He repeatedly has proven difficult to pass  MANDALOUN, who finished second, bounced back from his puzzling run in the Louisiana Derby. He got a gorgeous, ground-saving trip, was able to get out when Soup and Sandwich stopped for dinner, but couldn’t get past Medina Spirit. Hot Rod Charlie, who was third, pretty much followed Mandaloun at the three-furlong mark, and had dead aim on the top two coming off the bend. But he couldn’t go past Medina Spirit or Mandaloun, with his race and Medina Spirit’s reminiscent of how they ran in the Robert Lewis. ESSENTIAL QUALITY, who was fourth, bumped sharply with Rock Your World leaving the gate, but recovered well enough to take up a decent position during the run down the backstretch, during which he moved menacingly closer. But he seemed to hang in the lane, unable to get past the top three, the closeness of the finish validating how evenly matched this race looked on paper via the Beyer Speed Figures. Midnight Bourbon finished sixth, a deceptively good performance considering his early position. He was passively ridden away from the gate, in contrast to the stated pre-race tactics, then was angled outside down the backside and raced wide the rest of the way. SUPER STOCK – who finished 16th – clearly has far less speed than Midnight Bourbon, yet was in front of his stablemate coming through the lane the first time. Midnight Bourbon was as far back as 14th, and put in a good rally late. He looms a dangerous Preakness play if he exits this race well. He had far from his best chance and ran well to try and overcome the obstacles. KEEPMEINMIND, who was seventh, also had a dreadful trip. He broke slowly, and was closer to Central Avenue coming off the bend than to the rail, no fault of his rider, simply the necessity of having a bunch of stopping horses in front of him. He ran on well in his best race yet this year. :: Get Daily Racing Form past performances, featuring exclusive Beyer Speed Figures - the gold standard in horse racing  KNOWN AGENDA, who was ninth, was hampered not by the rail, but by being slow. He had no positional speed, and just chugged along, never making any impact. Rock Your World finished 17th, his race a disaster from the get-go. He took the worst of a squeeze play leaving the gate, putting him in a far different position than in the Santa Anita Derby. He did not like it. He was swapping leads coming through the lane the first time and looked uncomfortable racing from behind on dirt. He followed Essential Quality into the first turn, but while Essential Quality advanced down the backstretch, Rock Your World had nothing. In this Derby, if you didn’t get out and go, you went home hot and dirty.