Grade 3, $200,000 Iroquois Stakes, 1 1/16 miles, Churchill Downs, Sept. 14, 2019 (10 Derby qualifying points for a win, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth) Winner: Dennis’ Moment, by Tiznow Trainer: Dale Romans Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr. Owner: Albaugh Family Stables LLC Beyer Speed Figure: 90 The Road to the 2020 Derby has commenced. This is the first of 35 point-scoring races between now and the Kentucky Derby next May 2, and this race has increased significance owing to it being a “Win and You’re In” toward the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Nov. 1 at Santa Anita. The highly regarded DENNIS’ MOMENT acts like a colt who could have a major say in all that, and more. He followed up his romping maiden win at Ellis Park (97 Beyer) with a sharp victory here in his two-turn debut while earning another strong figure for a 2-year-old in September. He has the pedigree to be even better with experience and more distance, and he already has the benefit of winning at Churchill Downs, home of the Derby. In this race, Dennis’ Moment went into the first turn just behind the early leaders while in the three path. He had the leaders in his range down the backstretch, then moved three paths wide to engage for the lead three furlongs out. He hit the top without being asked for his best, kicked clear in upper stretch, and was taken in hand the final sixteenth after Ortiz looked back and saw there was no danger. It was interesting that even though he was geared down and runner-up SCABBARD was finishing fast, Dennis’ Moment never let him by on the gallop-out. He had plenty left. Scabbard, who finished second, saved ground around the first turn while midpack, advanced inside rivals heading to the half-mile pole, but then had to slam on the brakes in traffic and was shuffled back. He split horses a quarter-mile out and made a nice run the rest of the way, an encouraging effort considering what happened to him halfway through the race. He’s got plenty of quality himself. The top two are both promising prospects. LEBDA, who was third, was sent away from the gate and went into the first turn just outside the early leader, JUGGERNAUT. He was about a length off Juggernaut through a fairly quick pace (23.35-second quarter, 47.31 half), was between Juggernaut and Dennis’ Moment rounding the far turn, couldn’t stay with the winner in upper stretch but kept to his task under aggressive handling to hold third. This was his first start around two turns. It’s probably not going to be his ideal trip, and he’s shown he’s very good around one turn, so he will do just fine if sensibly managed. LETMENO, who was fourth, was taken hold of leaving the gate and trailed around the first turn while hugging the rail. He passed the back markers on the far turn and made steady headway through the lane but was never a threat to the top two. The hot pace likely helped his late run, but dragging him back so far seemed unnecessary; he has enough tactical speed to lay closer. ROWDY YATES, who finished fifth, raced between rivals going into the first turn while just inside of Dennis’ Moment, then got slightly shuffled back. He and jockey Tyler Baze moved with Scabbard heading into the far turn and drove Scabbard right into a roadblock while securing a clear lane in the three path around the far turn. But he never really punched it in through the lane while taking a slight bump from Scabbard a furlong out. This was his first try around two turns and he ran like a horse who will be at his best around one turn. JANUARY WON, who was sixth, broke a half-step slow and then was guided to the rail from his outside post to save ground while eighth around the first turn. He lost ground heading into the far turn and was last with three furlongs remaining, then passed some tired rivals in the stretch. This was a big ask for a horse coming off one outing, a win in a sprint. FLUTE MAKER, who was seventh, was bumped by Juggernaut leaving the gate, raced three paths wide while midpack around the first turn, made a bit of progress in the three path on the far turn, came into the lane four wide, but lacked any punch the rest of the way. AUTOMATE, who was eighth, stood flat-footed when the gates opened and was off well behind his rivals, tried to make a bit of a run on the far turn while saving ground but never made up any appreciable ground and was well back throughout. He needs softer company. Juggernaut, who finished ninth, broke quickly from the gate, brushed Flute Maker, then motored to the front and set a lively pace. He was still in front narrowly with three furlongs to go but had little to offer when Lebda and then Dennis’ Moment ranged up outside him, and he emptied out the final furlong. Like January Won, he too was racing two turns in his stakes debut with only a single race, a sprint win, to his credit. ZYRAMID, who was last of 10, lunged and broke a bit awkwardly but still ended up in a good spot into the first turn, on the rail just behind the two leaders. He stayed in that ideal position down the backstretch and into the far turn, had Lebda run up on his heels, then could not keep pace around the far turn and tired badly. With his pedigree (by City Zip), he might be worth trying on turf sometime soon, perhaps at a shorter distance.