by Ed DeRosa

Jeff Mullins was not happy that New York stewards scratched Gato Go Win from the Bay Shore Stakes (G2) on April 4 at Aqueduct due to a detention barn violation, but the Southern California-based trainer saw a bright side to the situation.

Had security personnel at the Aqueduct detention barn not scolded Mullins for administering AirPower to Gato Go Win, then the trainer most likely would have also administered the drug to I Want Revenge before the Wood Memorial Stakes (G1) later on the program.

I Want Revenge won the Wood despite a troubled trip, and the Stephen Got Even colt is one of the favorites for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1). Joe Mahoney, a spokesman for the New York State Racing and Wagering Board, said Sunday that I Want Revenge was under surveillance in the security barn prior to racing, and that his connections did not violate any rules concerning his prerace preparations.

Mullins blamed Aqueduct’s security personnel for the mix-up, saying that they should have confiscated anything that did not belong in the detention barn.

“They looked at everything I carried in, so when they let me through [with AirPower], in my mind, everything was fine,” Mullins said. “Everything was out in the open. Two investigators watched me give the horse the treatment then five minutes later they wanted to see it. If they saw the AirPower and dosing syringe on me the whole time, then why didn’t they stop me?

“If they hadn’t stopped me after I gave [AirPower] to Gato Go Win, then I would have done the same with I Want Revenge.”

Mullins said that he could not enjoy I Want Revenge’s Wood victory because he was so disappointed for the connections of Gato Go Win.

“I had two owners low as they could get, and I had I Want Revenge’s owners higher than a kite,” Mullins said. “It was hard to be too happy, though, I just felt so bad what happened.”

Mullins trains Gato Go Win for a partnership of Dean De Renzo, Randy Hartley, Joey Platts, and William Sims. He trains I Want Revenge for a partnership of IEAH Stables, David Lanzman, Puglisi Racing, and Charles Winner. IEAH, Puglisi, and Winner purchased an interest in I Want Revenge following his 8 1/2-length victory in the Gotham Stakes (G3) in March.

Mullins said he did not know whether I Want Revenge received AirPower before his Gotham win because he was not with the horse in the detention barn that day. Mullins said he was at the detention barn prior to the Wood because one of his stable workers quit before the weekend, and he was shorthanded.

“For the Gotham, I had some workers from Tony Dutrow’s barn lead [I Want Revenge to the detention barn],” Mullins said. “I had packed the AirPower, but they may have known it wasn’t allowed and not brought it in. I don’t know if [I Want Revenge] got it that day.”

Mullins said that he uses AirPower on most of his horses and likened it to chewing on a menthol cough drop. Mullins administers AirPower using an oral syringe that splashes the product in the horse’s mouth as well as water for rinsing.

I Want Revenge shipped to Churchill Downs on Monday. Mullins said that an exercise rider would stay with the horse the early part of the week before he arrives in Louisville later this week after a short fishing vacation with his sons.

As for future trips to New York for racing, Mullins said that the only time he would want to race in New York again would be in the Belmont Stakes (G1) if I Want Revenge wins the Derby and Preakness Stakes (G1).

“I’ve never had a good experience anytime I go to New York, and I will avoid New York at all costs,” Mullins said. “I hope to go there one more time with a Derby-Preakness winner, but I won’t be looking for reasons to go.”

Mahoney said that stewards would confer on Mullins’s detention barn violation later this week—most likely on Wednesday.

Ed DeRosa is news editor of THOROUGHBRED TIMES