I Want Revenge continued preparations Thursday morning for
his return to racing, breezing seven furlongs out of the gate at Aqueduct
Racetrack.
With jockey Ramon Dominguez filling in for I Want Revenge’s
regular rider, Joe Talamo, whose flight from California was delayed, the
strapping dark bay colt went to the gate just after the renovation break in
company with the Rick Dutrow-trained Golden Spikes and Deciphering Dreams, a
2-year-old. After stumbling slightly at the start, I Want Revenge quickly got
in gear and tracked his stablemates through the early going, coming wide into
the stretch to finish up in 1:27.27.
“I was looking to see him go a basic seven-eighths breeze
out of the gate,” said Dutrow of I Want Revenge, who is owned by IEAH Stables.
“Ramon is happy with him, and he’s cooling out good, so he’s ready for
tomorrow.”
It was the eighth published workout this year for I Want
Revenge, whose targeted start in the 125th running of the Grade 2, $300,000
Suburban Handicap at Belmont Park
on July 3 would be his first since winning the Grade 1 Wood Memorial in April,
2009. The morning-line favorite for the 2009 Kentucky Derby, I Want Revenge was
scratched the day of the race due to an ankle injury and later underwent
surgery to repair ligament damage in his front ankle.
After a lengthy rehabilitation, he returned to training in
April.
“It seems like he’s ready [for the Suburban],” said Dutrow.
“We’ll see if he is, if he keeps training this way. We gave him more this
morning; it was a seven-eighths breeze. I’m just trying to keep up with him.
The horse keeps taking us, so we’re just trying to follow his lead. Why not?”