Gleneagles aces 2000 Guineas: a good omen for 2015 Kentucky Derby contender Carpe Diem?

The Aidan O'Brien-trained Gleneagles stormed to a decisive victory in Saturday's Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) at Newmarket, potentially portending a transatlantic double for his dam and her full brother.

By Galileo, Gleneagles is out of You'resothrilling, a Group 2-winning full sister to champion and renowned international sire Giant's Causeway -- the sire of Derby contender Carpe Diem.

But there's more. Godolphin's Territories finished second to Gleneagles. A sign of another classic placing, or better, from Godolphin's Derby runner -- Frosted?

Sure, the attempt to stake out parallels between the Guineas, held over the straight Rowley Mile on Newmarket's long-trod turf, and the Kentucky Derby, contested over 1 1/4 miles on the dirt at historic Churchill Downs, is a bit forced.

At the same time, aren't we racing fans and horseplayers always looking for signs, hints, and omens wherever we may find them? It's a great parlor game.

And I'll never forget the extraordinary Guineas-Derby double that was served up in 2006. Guineas winner George Washington and Derby legend Barbaro were both bred by Roy and Gretchen Jackson.