Dennis' Moment earns a 90 Beyer for Iroquois victory

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Dale Romans walked down from his Churchill Downs box with arms raised in triumphant fashion. Joy and relief were among the swirl of emotions the 53-year-old trainer was experiencing in the immediate aftermath of his newest stable star Dennis’ Moment winning the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes on Saturday.

“You know how it feels when a horse lets you down,” said Romans. “So when they come through like this one did, you just kind of let it all go. We’re extremely happy with him.”

By winning the 1 1/16-mile Iroquois, Dennis’ Moment earned a Win and You’re In berth toward the Nov. 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita and won’t race again until then, said Romans. His training schedule has yet to be decided, although in some prior years when the Breeders’ Cup has been in California, Romans has shipped early enough for at least one breeze over the surface.

“We may do that with him. I’m not sure,” Romans said Monday.

Dennis’ Moment earned a 90 Beyer Speed Figure in the Iroquois. He was given a 97 in his July maiden romp at Ellis Park.

◗ Lazy Daisy, the winner of the Grade 2 Pocahontas for fillies Saturday with a 77 Beyer, was flown home Sunday to her California base. Trainer Doug O’Neill said the Paynter filly will run next in the Nov. 1 BC Juvenile Fillies, for which she also won an Win and You’re In berth.