Dennis' Moment sparks Romans' Kentucky Derby 2020 dreams

Sunday’s 10-race program at Churchill Downs will feature a competitive five-furlong maiden special weight race that features Dennis’ Moment, who trainer Dale Romans has dubbed as a “future stable star.”

A $400,000 Fasig-Tipton August Sale purchase, Dennis’ Moment is owned by Albaugh Family Stables, with the Tiznow colt looking to follow in the footsteps of that stable's previous Kentucky Derby runners.

There were Brody's Cause (2016), J Boys Echo (2017) and Free Drop Billy (2018) before a hiatus in 2019.

“He’s done everything right to be a special colt,” Romans said. “It’s a long way to go until the first Saturday in May, 316 days to be exact, and that’s always our goal. We’re just getting a lot of our 2-year-olds started but he’s risen to the top of the class.”

Taking on Dennis' Moment will be Ghostlore, the half-brother to multiple Grade 1-winner On Fire Baby.

“This could be one of those races that we’ll be talking about next year,” said trainer Pat Byrne, who will send out Silent Malice for his second-career start. “Our horse probably wants to go longer, like most of these in this race, but we’re getting to run for a $95,000 purse which attracts a lot of trainers' top 2-year-olds.”

Ghostlore, owned by Anita Cauley Racing, will make his debut for trainer Ian Wilkes. The bay colt by Ghostzapper enters the race with a bullet five-furlong move in 1:00.60 from the starting gate on June 14.

“He’s a very nice colt from what he’s shown us in the morning,” Wilkes said. “He certainly has the pedigree to be a really good one. You really don’t know until you run them for the first time. Our hopes are high, though.”

Post time for Race 2 on Sunday is 1:14 p.m. ET.