Dennis' Moment Receives Time Off at WinStar Farm
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Photo: Chad B. Harmon
Dennis' Moment stumbles at the start of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita Park
Albaugh Family Stables' Dennis' Moment, who ran last of eight in the Nov. 1 TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita Park after stumbling to his knees at the break, traveled Nov. 7 to WinStar Farm near Versailles, Ky., where he will receive a freshening before rejoining trainer Dale Romans' stable in Florida in mid-December.
The 2-year-old Tiznow colt trained this week at Churchill Downs for Romans, who wanted to assess how the horse was doing and whether there were any lingering effects from the stumble before sending him to the farm. The trainer and his staff posted to social media photos of the colt galloping and news of his time away at WinStar.
"He looked good. For a few days he was a little (sore) up in his shoulders," Romans said.
Dennis' Moment won two of four starts this year, including the Iroquois Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs in a stakes-record time of 1:43.58. That performance, which followed a 19 1/4-length maiden romp July 27 at Ellis Park, contributed to his 4-5 favoritism in the Juvenile.
Although he was never a factor in the race, bettors continue to be high on the colt. Oddchecker.com listed him among the favorites Nov. 8 in overseas betting for next spring's Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) at Churchill, pegged between 20-1 and 25-1 odds with a handful of British bookmakers.
Champagne Stakes (G1) winner Tiz the Law, expected for the Nov. 30 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) at Churchill, is the early Derby favorite, largely offered at odds between 14-1 and 20-1. Upset Juvenile winner Storm the Court is between 25-1 and 33-1.
Romans said the Feb. 29 Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park is his early 3-year-old target for Dennis' Moment.
The colt is the first starter out of the winning Elusive Quality mare Transplendid, who was recently sold for $1.4 million to Sugar Valley Farm during The November Sale, Fasig-Tipton's breeding stock sale in Lexington, where she was consigned by Ballysax Bloodstock. Dennis' Moment was a $400,000 purchase by his owner at The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton's select yearling sale in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., from the same consignor.