After saddling a record five Kentucky Derby runners one year ago, and nominating over 30 to this year’s edition, it took a 1-2 effort in the Blue Grass Stakes for Todd Pletcher to make his presence felt on the Road to Louisville.

Monba, who had a rough trip and galloped home last of 12 in the Fountain of Youth earlier this season, outgamed stablemate Cowboy Cal through the lane to post the victory ($19.60) beneath Edgar Prado.

Meanwhile, heavy favorite Pyro checked in tenth in his first try racing over a synthetic surface.

Elsewhere, Hey Byrn scored a harder-than-expected win in the Holy Bull, and Gayego triumphed in the Arkansas Derby.

So what does it all mean?

For Pyro, it means that Steve Asmussen will need to train him a bit harder than planned given the little he will likely take away from this effort. Yet for handicappers, it was a nice surprise as he will surely be a much more appealing price four weeks from now, and I will give him every chance to make amends.

For Monba, it showed that his last was a toss-out, yet seems to have him headed to Churchill Downs with just a single taxing race since December.

For Cowboy Cal, it shows what we already expected — that given his affinity for turf, he can also run well on Polytrack.

For Hey Byrn, it gives him a reason to continue dreaming of roses, although he will — deservedly — be an outsider.

For Gayego, it shows that he can handle nine furlongs, which is farther than many had pegged him for. Will 10 also prove to be within reach? I found the Ark. Derby to be a soft group, yet it does provide a shade of validity to the West coast form (good news for Colonel John believers).

For Z Fortune, who finished second to Gayego, it shows that he is an honest, solid race horse. He endured a much wider journey than did the winner, and continued on well through the lane. The NY-bred has now run good second-place races to Pyro and Gayego this spring, and while it is fair to place him a cut below the top of the class, he has earned his place in the starting gate.