His path to the Derby is non-traditional, at least when it comes to producing winners. But, despite never having raced on North American soil, Mubtaahij stands a decent chance to buck history and find the Kentucky Derby winner’s circle. His strong stamina base — he has already raced twice at 9.5f — should benefit him well during the final furlong on Saturday at Churchill.

UAE 2000 Guineas

His campaign started with a loss to Maftool in the UAE 2000 Guineas. But Mubtaahij didn’t fold when headed and continued to fight on till the wire — both promising signs.

Al Bastakiya

Sir Fever, the Uruguayan Triple Crown winner, brought hype (and memories of Invasor), but was easily dispatched by Mubtaahij. He simply goes by with ease.

UAE Derby

Debates a plenty about the quality of this field, but visually, Mubtaahij is a sight to behold. He demonstrates a tremendous turn of foot in the stretch, and wins under wraps.

Mubtaahij is the great mystery of the 2015 Kentucky Derby. He certainly needs to be respected as a fringe candidate for top honors. His pressing style, like Carpe Diem, could prove helpful in navigating a trip in Kentucky.  Yes, debates abound over the quality of the horses he beat in Dubai, and speed figures tend to be mixed. That said, he should arrive in Kentucky with a stamina base potentially unmatched by any of the other contenders.