If you follow sire trends and tendencies, it's no secret that offspring of Tapit can be, well, strong-willed. They always bear watching in the paddock and post parade to ensure they don't lose their race before getting to the starting gate - especially in scenes such as the one the Kentucky Derby horses will encounter Saturday.

This doesn't seem to be the case with Tacitus. Juddmonte manager Garrett O'Rourke told me last week that the colt is especially calm for a Tapit, and that certainly seems to be the case. Walking to and from the track through the crowds that have gotten increasingly thick in the mornings, and standing to be bathed while half-circled by onlookers, Tacitus has appeared interested in the goings-on, but not the least bit hot. It's a promising sign if you like him Saturday. Tacitus and stablemate Country House both turned in routine gallops with aplomb this morning.

I believe that intangibles, such as the temperament, can definitely help a horse, and if you're looking for another one, Tacitus is battle-seasoned. The colt overcame a troubled break and run into the first turn in the Wood Memorial, and the seasoning could serve him well on Derby Day - although trainer Bill Mott cautioned that the Derby is a different beast.

"All traffic problems are not the same," he said. "After he was exposed to that in the Wood, he did get away from that and get in the clear and have a nice run down the backside. No matter what happens in the first turn [of the Derby], you're still gonna have traffic on the backside ... you're never completely clear in this race."