NEWS
I Want Revenge owner committed to Mullins
Posted: Tuesday, April 07, 2009 4:31 PM
by Ed DeRosa
David Lanzman, controlling owner of Wood Memorial Stakes (G1) winner and leading classic contender I Want Revenge, said he has no doubts about retaining Jeff Mullins as the colt’s trainer despite an ongoing investigation by the New York State Racing and Wagering Board that Mullins violated detention barn rules on April 4 at Aqueduct.
Security personnel working the detention barn allegedly witnessed Mullins administering a liquid substance orally to Bay Shore Stakes (G3) entrant Gato Go Win. Mullins admitted Monday to giving the colt Air Power Cough Formula in the detention barn. He said he figured that was permitted since security had not confiscated the substance—or the oral syringe used to apply it—when he checked in at the detention barn entrance earlier in the day.
(To read more about the incident, click here)
A spokesman with the Racing and Wagering Board said stewards have not set a hearing date on the matter, though he expects it to occur sometime this week. The New York Racing Association, which operates Aqueduct, has its own detention barn rules separate from the Racing and Wagering Board and could impose sanctions as well.
“Jeff and I discussed it,” Lanzman said on Tuesday. “I’ve been with Jeff for more than three years, and he’s never lied to me, and I don’t think he’s lying to me now. He’s been very consistent with his story, and I stand behind him.”
Mullins said that he does not know whether I Want Revenge received Air Power before winning the Gotham Stakes (G3) on March 7 at Aqueduct by 8 1/2 lengths on the inner track because he was not with the colt in the detention barn that day, but he did say that he would have given I Want Revenge Air Power before the Wood if security had not scratched Gato Go Win from the Bay Shore.
Lanzman sold an interest in his homebred Stephen Got Even colt to IEAH Stable, Puglisi Racing, and Charles Winner following the Gotham. IEAH won the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1) last year with eventual champion Big Brown, whose trainer, Richard Dutrow Jr., also faced questions regarding his treatment of horses, including giving them steroids and previous rules and drug violations.
“I can’t make any judgments; I just hope that whatever story evolves doesn’t take away from the performance of I Want Revenge,” IEAH Stables President Michael Iavarone said. “I went through this last year, and it’s disturbing to me again that attention could be taken away from the horse.”
Iavarone said that part of IEAH’s agreement with Lanzman includes a clause that Lanzman would retain all decisions related to the connections of I Want Revenge (such as trainer and jockey) unless the colt finishes out of the money in multiple races.
Lanzman said that he is sticking with Mullins while echoing Iavarone’s sentiment.
“Winning the Wood may have been the highlight of my career along with [winning] the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) [with Squirtle Squirt in 2001], and all we’ve been talking about since the win is this [Mullins’s alleged violation],” Lanzman said. “It’s cast a pall on everything, but I support and totally stand behind Jeff nothing less than 100%.”
I Want Revenge arrived at Churchill Downs on Monday. Mullins has spent the early part of the week following the Wood on vacation fishing with his sons, but expects to be in Louisville later this week to check up on I Want Revenge.
Lanzman said that he planned to arrive in Louisville on April 25 to spend the week watching his horse train for the Kentucky Derby.
Ed DeRosa is news editor of Thoroughbred Times
