Dennis' Moment ready to get back on track in Fountain of Youth

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – As Dennis’ Moment galloped around the track the other morning at Gulfstream Park, neck bowed, eager to do more, a visitor with trainer Dale Romans remarked at how well his colt looked.

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“Put that in there, so they know it’s not just me BSing,” Romans said.

Romans has done plenty of talking about Dennis’ Moment, whose dynamic victories last year in a maiden race at Ellis Park and then the Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs made him the odds-on favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Then the gate opened, and Dennis’ Moment ended up nearly prone.

“That was a bad day, boy,” Romans said.

Romans is hoping for better days ahead, beginning Saturday, when Dennis’ Moment kicks off his 3-year-old campaign in the Grade 2, $400,000 Fountain of Youth. It has been nearly four months since Dennis’ Moment last went to the post, more than 5 1/2 months since the last race in which he had a fair shot. He’s among the most talked about prospects for this year’s Kentucky Derby on May 2.

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“It’s time. Enough talking. Let’s get going,” Romans said.

The Fountain of Youth is worth 85 points overall, with 50 to the winner, on the system used by Churchill Downs to determine the Derby field. It drew a surprisingly large field of 12, but of the main contenders, Dennis’ Moment fared best, drawing post 5. With the short run to the first turn going 1 1/16 miles at Gulfstream, that could be paramount, especially since such top contenders as Ete Indien and Chance It landed posts 11 and 12, respectively.

The draw left Saffie Joseph Jr., the trainer of Chance It, pondering whether to run or await another spot if there are no defections by race day.

“If he were to break good, he could overcome the draw, but that’s the difference,” Joseph said. “If you don’t break good, you’re going to be hung six or seven wide. Everything has to go perfect from that draw.

“We don’t want to rush the decision. Can’t cry about it now. We have to deal with it. This was never even in the back of my mind. It came as a complete shock. When I thought it was eight horses in the race, the draw didn’t matter. Then all of a sudden they end up with 12. It’s already a competitive race and then to draw 12.

“The main goal now is to secure points to get into the Derby first,” Joseph added. “Everything else doesn’t matter other than that. It’s one step, one race at a time.”

This first step is critical for Dennis’ Moment, too. He’s had a star-crossed career, with two runaway victories bracketed by a debut in which he lost his rider, and the Breeders’ Cup debacle. He got Beyer Speed Figures of 97 in his maiden win and 90 in the Iroquois, outstanding figs for 2-year-olds at that stage of the year, but the form of those races has not held up.

“He can’t pick who’s behind him,” Romans said.

Flavien Prat has the mount on Dennis’ Moment owing to regular rider Irad Ortiz Jr. being overseas.

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Chance It beat Fountain of Youth contender As Seen On Tv last month in the Mucho Macho Man, a race from which third-place finisher Sole Volante emerged to win the Sam F. Davis. The 99 Beyer Speed Figure Chance It got that day is the best anyone in this field has recorded.

“He handled it well. It was a tough race off a layoff and the form has been validated,” Joseph said. “He had every chance to give in, and he didn’t. But he’s going to have to do it all again.”

Ete Indien most recently was second to Derby ante-post favorite Tiz the Law in the Holy Bull four weeks ago. Like Chance It, he will need to use his early speed to avoid behind hung wide.

“He’s improving in his races and his works and he’s going to need to continue to improve,” his trainer, Patrick Biancone, said Thursday morning. “I’m disappointed where he drew. The break is always super important, but at a mile and a sixteenth at Gulfstream the break is super, super, super important. If he breaks good, that will take care of it.”

Florent Geroux replaces the injured Luca Panici on Ete Indien.

Shotski, stuck in post 10, was second in the Withers in his last start. John Velazquez takes over with Luis Saez out of town.

More pace should come from Liam’s Lucky Charm, who drew post 9, and Candy Tycoon, who drew the rail.

Country Grammer, a maiden winner at Aqueduct in November, ended up in the race “because an allowance the same day didn’t fill,” trainer Chad Brown said.

“We have our eye on the Wood Memorial, and he needs to race now,” Brown said.

Masterday was a distant second in a Gulfstream allowance Jan. 11. Makabim, claimed twice in his first six starts, has a career-best Beyer of 73. Gear Jockey and The Falcon are both still maidens.

The Fountain of Youth is the last of 14 races Saturday at Gulfstream, with first post at 11:30 a.m. Eastern. It is preceded by nine other stakes, including eight other graded stakes, most notably the Davona Dale for Kentucky Oaks aspirants.

– additional reporting by Mike Welsch