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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.
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