2009 Gotham Stakes (G3) - I Want Revenge

Judging from his 8 ½-length victory Saturday afternoon in Aqueduct Racetracks 57th running of the Grade 3, $250,000 Gotham Stakes for three-year-olds, I Want Revenge wants a whole lot more. The California invader, making his first start on natural dirt after a 1-1-4 record from six starts on synthetic surfaces, stamped himself as a player to be reckoned with for New Yorks last major Kentucky Derby prep, the Grade 1, $750,000 Wood Memorial for three-year-olds at nine furlongs on Saturday, April 4. The Stephen Got Even colt not only showed a fondness for dirt, but also showed a warriors heart as he battled favorite Mr. Fantasy through fractions of 23.76, 48.48, 1:12.69 and then simply drew away to cover the mile and a sixteenth in 1:42.65. I have to give all the credit to Jeff (Mullins, trainer), said winning jockey Joe Talamo. Hes kept him fresh this whole campaign. I had so much horse the whole way around. Me and Alan (Garcia, jockey on Mr. Fantasy) were going pretty slow, but at the quarter-pole, my horse just took off. There is no comparison between real dirt and synthetic he really took to it. When we went past the three-sixteenths pole, I was smiling. Well be back in four weeks. Mullins, who will keep the horse in New York with trainer Anthony Dutrow to prepare for the Wood Memorial, wasnt quite sure what to expect. Nor did 5,154 fans, who let I Want Revenge go at 3-1. The horse was closer than I really wanted him to be, Mullins said. The horse kind of towed (jockey Joe Talamo) up there and (Talamo) stepped on him the whole way. I guess he knew what he was doing. We thought the dirt would move him up; I dont know if thats what did it or not. We might have just picked the right spot. Imperial Council rallied late under jockey Rajiv Maragh to neck Mr. Fantasy for the place. This is a really talented horse that is going to appreciate more distance, Maragh said. Hes the best three-year-old Ive ridden in New York. He galloped out tremendous. Mr. Fantasys trainer Kiaran McLaughlin was impressed by the winner. Theyve got good races out on the West Coast. Why didnt (I Want Revenge) stay out there? he joked. The best horse won today. We were second-best, even though we didnt get second. If that horse doesnt ship East, we win by five. Said Garcia of Mr. Fantasy: He ran good he got tired, but he ran so hard. He was a little warm in the paddock -- just so happy to run -- but he warmed up and settled down. Im very happy with the way he ran. Hes a nice horse and we can do better than that next time. Masala, Russell Road, Axel Foley, Naos, Haynesfield and Giant Ryan trailed.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• nyra
• horse
• racing
• new
• york
• association
• gotham
• stakes
• wood
• memorial
• aqueduct
• want
• revenge
• joe
• talamo

[GBeret83]

Can't wait to see I Want Revenge finally get back on the track racing for the Suburban Handicap at Belmont. After a longgggggggggggg lay-off from being scratched on the morning of the 09' Kentucky Derby as race favorite. I think Regal Ransom will likely be his toughest competitor in the race. But it's difficult to gauge how well I Want Revenge will run? But if he's back in the kind of form he was in, racing in 2009, he'll be tough. I thought he and Quality Road were the two best of that crop.

[dahoss65]

The rider on Mr Fantasy gave up finishing second.

[BigBrown2332]

I think that this pace was a little slower than some other paces, but he finished very well with a good sharp time of 1:42.3. The half was a crawl 48 and 2. The K Derby usually has a half mile run in 46 to 47, so i think that it was a pretty slow pace.

[JanH1961]

I wouldn't believe too much of what's on animal planet

[bleupeony2]

Was this race on a fast track? Did he set a record?

[rebjiii]

GDERBY7K...i can not make that friendly wager with u....as i was wrong... there are some woeful nags in this years derby....but RR and DP will finish 11th & 13th.

[GDERBY7K]

Friendly wager??? 16th and 18th I'll take that action?

[armageddonff]

joe strikes me as kind of an ass though I watched the jockey show on animal planet and he's a little pompous.

[rebjiii]

RR and DP will finish 16th and 18th on saturday...these GODOLPHIN nags are not trained properly for succes at churchill....save your money....and BOX i want revenge and PIONEER OF THE NILE ....till the cows come home....repeat ticket...repeat ticket...repeat ticket...repeat ticket.

[dytimmys]

BUT REMEMBER THIS WAS ON SLOP