Ete Indien has clear path to Kentucky Derby, Dennis' Moment less so

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Ete Indien took a significant step toward the Kentucky Derby with his victory in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth on Saturday, but the path forward is opaque for Dennis’ Moment, who finished last as the favorite without, as of Sunday morning, any excuse.

Those were the major plot points on Sunday morning here in South Florida, where two important Derby preps remain, the Tampa Bay Derby on Saturday, and then the Florida Derby later this month at Gulfstream Park. After that, the top 3-year-olds in these parts begin heading north.

Ete Indien on Saturday got a Beyer Speed Figure of 97 for his 8 1/2-length victory in the Fountain of Youth, which was worth 50 points toward a berth in the Kentucky Derby on May 2 at Churchill Downs. He now has 54 points – with four points gleaned from a second-place finish in the Holy Bull last month – which assures him a spot in the inevitable 20-horse field.

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His trainer, Patrick Biancone, on Sunday morning said Ete Indien would make his next start in the Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 28 at Gulfstream, a race worth 170 points over all, with 100 for first. That would afford Ete Indien a rematch with Derby ante-post favorite Tiz the Law, who won the Holy Bull but then bypassed the Fountain of Youth to go straight into the Florida Derby.

“That’s the natural plan as long as everything is all right,” Biancone said Sunday morning from the Palm Meadows training center, where he is based.

Everything was all right on Sunday. Ete Indien “ate all his food,” said Biancone, who had him jog a bit at his barn, without tack, early Sunday.

“He’s very proud of himself,” Biancone said.

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Biancone said the Florida Derby made the most sense for Ete Indien because it is a Grade 1 – as compared to the Blue Grass and Wood Memorial, which are Grade 2's – and because Ete Indien has turned in two strong races on the Gulfstream dirt this meet.

Biancone has another top Derby candidate in Sole Volante, who won the Sam F. Davis last month and is returning to Tampa for the Tampa Bay Derby, which, like the Fountain of Youth, is worth 85 points overall, 50 for first. Florent Geroux, who rode Ete Indien on Saturday, has the mount on Sole Volante. Both runners came open when regular rider Luca Panici broke his collarbone last month.

By contrast, trainer Dale Romans on Sunday morning was still trying to figure out why Dennis’ Moment had run such a dreadful race, finishing last as the 6-5 favorite in his first start this year. Dennis’ Moment never was closer than sixth, had no response when asked three furlongs out, and was allowed to coast home under jockey Flavien Prat. He finished more than 24 lengths behind Ete Indien.

“Nothing has shown up yet. We’re working on it. Very puzzled so far,” Romans said Sunday morning while watching his horses train at Gulfstream Park. “We’ll figure it out. I’m not giving up on him.”

Romans said an endoscopic examination showed Dennis' Moment did not bleed.

“He ate every oat. It really is confusing,” Romans said. “I’ve never had one run like that where something didn’t come up at some point.”