NEWS
I Want Revenge rallies to win Wood Memorial
Posted: Saturday, April 04, 2009 5:50 PM
I WANT REVENGE (center)
Adam Coglianese/NYRA photo
To view a video of the Wood Memorial Stakes, click here.
by Jeff Apel
Southern California shipper I Want Revenge seized command in deep stretch after rallying between foes and posted a 1 1/2-length win in the $750,000 Wood Memorial Stakes (G1) on Saturday at Aqueduct.
Making his final start prior to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) on May 2 at Churchill Downs, I Want Revenge showed he deserves consideration for favoritism in the opening leg of the Triple Crown by overcoming trouble to win the 1 1/8-mile Wood Memorial. After breaking in the air, I Want Revenge trailed in the field of eight three-year-olds through a quarter-mile in :24.50 and half-mile in :48.13.
I Want Revenge moved up near the inside rail approaching the stretch under jockey Joe Talamo, who found his mount blocked by a wall of three horses in early stretch. Talamo swung out I Want Revenge, who rallied between West Side Bernie and Just a Coincidence near midstretch and gamely prevailed as the 1-to-2 favorite in 1:49.49 on a track rated as fast.
“I thought today was a fairly easy race for him,” Talamo said. “To be honest, he only ran the last eighth of a mile, so I don’t think it took too much out of him. He just keeps getting better and better.”
Trainer Jeff Mullins plans to ship I Want Revenge to Churchill on Monday.
“He had every trouble you could have in a race and still overcame it,” Mullins said. “It tells me he’s a pretty nice horse. That’s as good as it gets right there.
“We’ve got one more show to go to and if he can win that one he’s a pretty special animal.”
Grade 3 winner West Side Bernie finished second, 1 1/4 lengths in front of Just a Coincidence.
IEAH Stables purchased a 50% interest in I Want Revenge from owner-breeder David Lanzman prior to the Wood Memorial Stakes. The Stephen Got Even colt entered off an 8 1/2-length romp in the Gotham Stakes (G3) in his first start on a dirt surface.
I Want Revenge made his first six career starts on synthetic surfaces in Southern California, and finished second to Pioneerof the Nile in the CashCall Futurity (G1) on December 20 at Hollywood Park. Pioneerof the Nile won the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on Saturday.
I Want Revenge posted his third win in eight starts and increased his earnings to $816,000. Bred in Kentucky, I Want Revenge is one of two winners from as many starters out of stakes winner Meguial (Arg), by Roy.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
For a video replay of the race, click here.
Jeff Apel is an assistant editor of Thoroughbred Times TODAY
