Kentucky Derby Super Six: Has Dennis’ Moment already passed?

Just 3 1/2 months ago, Dennis’ Moment sat atop the early Kentucky Derby leaderboard. He was supposed to be one of those special-type colts.He might still be, but he’s got much to prove heading into his scheduled 3-year-old debut on Feb. 29 at Gulfstream Park, when he runs in the Fountain of Youth Stakes.

Dennis’ Moment hasn’t raced since stumbling badly at the start of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita on Nov. 1 and finishing last after going to the gate as the 4-5 favorite. He earned favoritism over Eight Rings by virtue of a 19 1/4-length maiden victory at Ellis Park on July 27.

The son of two-time Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Tiznow followed up that monster victory with a 1 3/4-length win in the Grade III Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs on Sept. 14, prompting some to believe he was a potential star. He’s been working well for his return, according to trainer Dale Romans.

“He hasn’t missed a beat. His progression has been great,” Romans told Gulfstream Park publicists.

Romans hasn’t lost any confidence in his colt, whose return is being highly anticipated in South Florida.

“He’s just a good horse,” he said. “He’s only going to improve.”

With only 71 days until the 146th Kentucky Derby, here’s our latest Derby Super Six:

1. Nadal: Trainer Bob Baffert wasn’t going to start the son of Blame in the San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita on Feb. 9, but he called a late audible, and the colt put on quite a show.

We won’t know how good Nadal is until he goes two turns for the first time in the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park on March 14, but he’s got tons of raw talent. He sat just off Ginobili’s fast fractions of 21.81 and 44.09 in the San Vicente while winning the 7-furlong event by three-quarters of a length in 1:22.59.

“I trained him light for this, so this is his serious work,” Baffert said in the San Vicente winner’s circle. “He’s got a good foundation now.”

2. Dennis’ Moment: You can’t cross a colt off your Derby list that had so much trouble in his last start, and it says here that Dennis’ Moment will rebound nicely in the Fountain of Youth. If all goes well, a start in the Florida Derby would likely be next.

One area of concern is the colt’s penchant for bad starts. In addition to taking himself out of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at the start, he lost his rider after clipping heels shortly after the start of his debut at Churchill Downs last June.

3. Tiz the Law: The New York-bred colt with the same connections as 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Funny Cide moves into our top six after an impressive three-length victory in the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

“He’s just been a dream,” trainer Barclay Tagg told Gulfstream Park publicists. “He’s got energy, a big strong horse, not a real big horse, but he’s big in a lot of ways. He’s always trained perfectly. He’s always done everything we’ve asked him to do. He’s been flawless and his races have been exciting.”

Tiz the Law, a son of Constitution, flashed his talent when he won the Grade I Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park on Oct. 5. He finished third in the Grade II Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs on Nov. 30.

4. Thousand Words: He doesn’t blow away the opposition, but he keeps winning. There’s a lot to be said for a fighter, and this Pioneerof the Nile colt appears to have that trait.

All three of Thousand Words’ victories have come in workmanlike fashion, winning his debut by a half length on Oct. 26 at Santa Anita, the Los Alamitos Futurity by a neck on Dec. 7 and the Robert B. Lewis Stakes by three-quarters of a length.

“(Flavien) Prat says (Thousand Words) is getting better,” Baffert said after the Lewis. “He sort of grinds and he really has to work at it, but he’s got that big long stride. The further the better for him.”

5. Authentic: A son of Into Mischief, he hasn’t been postward since his impressive 7 3/4-length victory in the Sham Stakes at Santa Anita on Jan. 4. It was his first try around two turns after winning his maiden debut at Del Mar on Nov. 9.

He’s on track to join stablemate Thousand Words in the San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita on March 7.

“I told (Baffert) when he broke his maiden that he was my favorite 2-year-old,” jockey Drayden Van Dyke said. “He’s very talented.”

6. Silver Prospector: The Declaration of War colt won’t be short on experience if he shows up on Derby day. He’s already raced eight times, winning the Grade III Southwest Stakes by a length at Oaklawn Park in his most recent start.

Trained by Steve Asmussen, Silver Prospector’s 97 Beyer Speed Figure in the Southwest was one of the best for a 3-year-old this year.

On the outside looking in: Ajaaweed, Charlatan, Eight Rings, High Velocity, Honor A.P., Independence Hall, Maxfield, Sole Volante, Storm the Court.

Follow Art Wilson on Twitter at @Sham73