Horse Racing News is the source of thoroughbred racing information with horse racing odds, betting tips, racing picks, race results, and handicapping. Latest news and articles on top horse racing contenders, jockeys, trainers, three-year-olds, race tracks, and major stakes races such as the Triple Crown races: the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes as well as the Breeders' Cup horse races.Kentucky Derby Prep Race Results: I Want Revenge Wins Wood Memorial at Aqueduct April 4
Posted on Saturday, April 4th, 2009
I Want Revenge overcame a horrible start, traffic problems and 7 other hopeful Kentucky Derby contenders Saturday afternoon to win the 85th running of the $750,000 Wood Memorial (G1) at Aqueduct Rracetrack by 1 1/2 lengths over West Side Bernie.
“You don’t want to see that kind of trouble, and nine out of 10 times they don’t overcome it,” said winning race horse trainer Jeff Mullins, as I Want Revenge paid $3 for his second victory on dirt. “So, for him to do what did today is just unbelievable. He had every trouble you could have in a race and still overcame it. That’s as good as it gets right there.”
Breaking from the rail, I Want Revenge reared back, and then lunged forward when the gate opened to spot the Wood Memorial field several lengths.
That misstep opened the door for Lord Justice to set the pace of 24.50, 48.13 and 1:12.32., with Atomic Rain close up, along with second choice Imperial Council.
With I Want Revenge far back, the race seemed to set up for Imperial Council. He had run second in the Gotham Stakes, and Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey believed he was too far off a slow pace. This time, he was in the thick of the fight and was just behind Just a Coincidence, who had been rating in fourth, when they hit the top of the stretch.
Suddenly, a wall was formed up front with Imperial Council, Just a Coincidence and Atomic Rain fighting for the lead.
I Want Revenge, meanwhile, had saved ground under jockey Joe Talamo, tilted out to the middle of the track and moved steadily into contention. He waited for running room behind the wall, as West Side Bernie came outside.
Jockey Talamo, whose patience will be mentioned often in the weeks leading to the Kentucky Derby on May 2, waited for the hole and when West Side Bernie drifted a tad outside, he shot through to win the nine-furlong event in 1:49.49. Just a Coincidence was two lengths behind West Side Bernie in third.
“At the break he kind of reared up a little bit,” jockey Joe Talamo said. “But he actually had a great trip. He was on the rail the whole way and got to save ground. Right down the stretch, I found an opening and he kicked down like a real nice horse. You can’t panic. You just have to go with Plan B. Can’t rush him up, just stay relaxed and let the race go like it is. At the half-mile pole, he was moving so good it was just a matter of if he could get out. He was just cruising at the quarter-pole and was covered up, then when I found a seam I asked him and he just kicked it home.”
“I thought today was a fairly easy race for him,” Talamo continued. “To be honest, he only ran the last eighth of a mile, so I don’t think it took too much out of him. He just keeps getting better and better. That was the first time he got real dirt in his face and he took it like he’s had it before 100 times. He’s such a smart animal and he’s real mature for his age.”
Race horse trainer Jeff Mullins said he would like to ship to Churchill Downs on Monday, and hopefully, start training I Want Revenge for the 2009 Kentucky Derby at 1 1/4 miles.
Trainer Kelly Breen, who finished second and fourth, respectively, with West Side Bernie and Atomic Rain, is excited about his first trip to the Kentucky Derby 135.
“When Stewart (Elliott, jockey of West Side Bernie) got clear and got the dirt out of his face at the top of the stretch, he really kicked in,” Breen said. “Asking Stewart about going to Kentucky, he said they have the ground and you can take as much into contest as you want about whether he’s bred for it or not. But he seems to like the distance. The 2-horse (I Want Revenge) ran a great race got left and had a ton of horse left. But the Kentucky Derby I don’t want to say it’s a once in a lifetime shot, but it would be my first shot, knock on wood. If this horse comes out of the race good, then we’re all systems go.”
“I hope we can throw out the race at Turfway and say he’s on a forward progress line and ready for the ‘First Saturday in May.’ The winner ran a nice race. It was his day,” race horse trainer Kelly Breen said.
Imperial Council finished fifth, but McGaughey said there was no way he would make the Kentucky Derby.
Cellar Dweller, Lord Justice and Lime Rickey, a turf specialist who was taking a shot in the Wood Memorial, completed the order of finish.
Horse racing news edited from www.nyra.com.
Tags: Atomic Rain, Cellar Dweller, I Want Revenge, Imperial Council, Just a Coincidence, Lime Rickey, Lord Justice, West Side Bernie
"Kentucky Derby Prep Race Results: I Want Revenge Wins Wood Memorial at Aqueduct April 4" was posted on Saturday, April 4th, 2009 at 9:48 pm and is filed under Aqueduct, Horse Racing Industry, Horses, Race Tracks News, Results & Payouts, Stakes Races, Triple Crown, USA Horse Racing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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