KENTUCKY DERBY REPORT
MARCH 12, 2009
by James Scully
What a dirt horse! I WANT REVENGE (Stephen Got Even) improved dramatically
when moving from synthetic to dirt in Saturday’s Gotham S. (G3), garnering his
first stakes victory with an 8 1/2-length trouncing. His BRIS Speed ratings tell
the story.
In his final two juvenile starts, I Want Revenge earned Speed figures of 86
(maiden special weight win in late October) and 91 (runner-up finish in the
CashCall Futurity [G1]) on the Cushion Track at Hollywood Park. In his
three-year-old bow, a third-place effort over Pro-Ride in the Robert B. Lewis S.
(G2), he received a 95 after proving no match for Pioneerof the Nile (Empire
Maker) and Papa Clem (Distorted Humor) in deep stretch. Those numbers were
irrelevant on Saturday as I Want Revenge posted a 113 BRIS Speed rating.
He’s about 10 lengths better on dirt, and it should come as no surprise to
Thoroughbred racing fans in America. It’s a common theme, whether we’re dealing
with dirt/turf or dirt/synthetic. Some horses are versatile enough to excel on
multiple surfaces (Barbaro immediately comes to mind), but most favor one over
the other. Last year, Monba (Maria’s Mon) and Adriano (A.P. Indy) displayed
their prowess on synthetic tracks when capturing the Blue Grass S. (G1) and
Lane’s End S. (G2), respectively, but they weren’t anywhere near that form on
dirt, finishing last and next-to-last in the Kentucky Derby (G1). Put I Want
Revenge in the dirt category.
Gotham: Held over the inner track at Aqueduct, the Gotham has had no
impact upon the Kentucky Derby this century, but that’s subject to change in
2009. I Want Revenge is now a major contender, and runner-up IMPERIAL COUNCIL
(Empire Maker) gave an excellent account of himself in his stakes debut.
With plenty of speed signed on, I Want Revenge figured to be rating under Joe
Talamo, but a quick pace didn’t materialize and the duo wound up on the front
end, pressing MR. FANTASY (E Dubai) through moderate early splits in :23 3/5,
:48 2/5 and 1:12 3/5. I Want Revenge turned up the heat approaching the stretch
and rolled past his rival in the lane, passing the mile mark with a two-length
advantage in 1:36 2/5. He came home quickly in dazzling fashion, finishing up
the 1 1/16-mile distance in 1:42 3/5. The Kentucky-bred colt registered a 118
BRIS Late Pace number.
It was a jaw-dropping performance from this corner. I Want Revenge earned the
best BRIS Speed rating of a Derby prospect this year; he’s bred to relish 10
furlongs; and the dark bay colt can be placed anywhere with his tactical speed,
which figures to serve him well in a 20-horse field at Churchill Downs.
Granted, the pace was soft in the Gotham and the quality of competition is
still unproven, but I Want Revenge couldn’t have been much more impressive. And
it’s important to note that it was only the third stakes appearance for the
David Lanzman homebred. His rivals better hope that he doesn’t continue to
improve for conditioner Jeff Mullins. I Want Revenge will return to Aqueduct for
his final prep in the Wood Memorial (G1) on April 4.
Imperial Council will need to show more in his final Derby prep, and that’s
what I’m expecting from the up-and-coming colt. After breaking his maiden at
Belmont Park in early October, Imperial Council wasn’t seen again until February
14, returning to the races with a good-looking, two-length allowance score going
6 1/2 furlongs at Gulfstream Park. He stepped up to make his route debut in the
Gotham, and the dark bay never got involved during the early stages, trailing
far behind during the opening three-quarters of a mile. Imperial Council
appeared to have little chance at a top-three finish midway on the final turn,
but he found his best stride entering the stretch, passing several rivals before
catching Mr. Fantasy for second in the final strides.
Bred to excel at longer distances, Imperial Council is probably a bigger
threat for the Belmont S. (G1) or Travers S. (G1) than the Kentucky Derby.
Trainer Shug McGaughey isn’t going to push the promising sophomore, and the
Sequoia Racing-owned colt is playing catch-up with less than two months
remaining until Derby Day. But I still love his potential. Imperial Council
notched a career-best 103 Speed as well as a 117 Late Pace rating in the Gotham.
He’s eligible to make up a lot of ground over the next seven weeks.
Mr. Fantasy recorded a respectable third in his first start against open
company. The New York-bred crushed overmatched foes in his first two outings,
winning a maiden special weight by 10 1/2 lengths and an entry-level allowance
by 8 1/2 lengths, but he didn’t have everything his own way during the early
stages of the Gotham, with I Want Revenge applying pressure from the start. The
Kiaran McLaughlin trainee spotted plenty of seasoning to his rival and couldn’t
handle the class check, but he continued on gamely after being passed and earned
a triple-digit Speed number (102). Don’t be surprised to see Mr. Fantasy improve
off his first career setback.
MASALA (Lion Heart), who was making his stakes debut off a runner-up finish
in a Gulfstream allowance, enjoyed a perfect stalking trip and was in position
to challenge at the top of the stretch, but he lacked a rally in his first start
around two turns and probably doesn’t want any part of longer distances.
HAYNESFIELD (Speightstown) brought a three-race stakes winning streak into his
graded debut, but he was never a factor and is likely off the Derby trail
following a disappointing eighth.
Santa Anita Oaks: STARDOM BOUND (Tapit) extended her win skein to five
with a hard-fought, nose decision in Saturday’s Santa Anita Oaks (G1), but it
wasn’t the strong showing that many expected. The IEAH Stables colorbearer now
appears to be off the Derby trail, with the Ashland S. (G1) at Keeneland being
mentioned as her next start.
The Kentucky Oaks (G1) has always been an option for the two-year-old filly
champion, but her connections wanted to give her a shot at the Kentucky Derby
and planned to see where she fit with a start against males in the April 4 Santa
Anita Derby (G1). They shouldn’t abandon ship yet. The Santa Anita Oaks featured
a painfully slow early pace and Stardom Bound was caught ridiculously wide,
about eight paths off the rail, leaving the far turn. Whether she won easily or
in a nail-biter, the Santa Anita Oaks wasn’t going to show us how she would
perform against males.
They’ll be winging it early in the Santa Anita Derby, with Bob Baffert likely
to enter the ultra-quick Zensational (Unbridled’s Song) to mix it up early with
The Pamplemousse (Kafwain), and Stardom Bound will finally get a legitimate
set-up after being caught in two paceless races this season. She’s a one-run
closer, and the Kentucky Derby is a 1 1/4-mile race that can feature an opening
half-mile in :44 and change. If she can make an impact from off the pace in the
Santa Anita Derby, she’ll have at least a puncher’s chance in the Run for the
Roses. She might as well be given the opportunity.
Upcoming: Saturday promises to be exciting with four important preps.
Early Derby favorite OLD FASHIONED (Unbridled’s Song), winner of the Southwest
S. (G3) in his seasonal debut, will be on display again at Oaklawn Park in the
Rebel S. (G2). PIONEEROF THE NILE highlights a short field in the San Felipe S.
(G2), and HELLO BROADWAY (Broken Vow) will make his two-turn bow in the Tampa
Bay Derby (G3). The Louisiana Derby (G2) appears especially contentious, with
FRIESAN FIRE (A.P. Indy), GIANT OAK (Giant’s Causeway), PAPA CLEM (Smart Strike)
and PATENA (Seeking the Gold) all looking to make their mark in the 1 1/16-mile
event at Fair Grounds.