I Want Revenge , the morning-line favorite for the 2009 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) before being scratched the day of the race, is back in training at Aqueduct.
According to Michael Iavarone, president and director of IEAH Stables, the colt is jogging at Aqueduct under the care of trainer Rick Dutrow and could soon be breezing toward his return to competition.
IEAH has assumed full ownership of I Want Revenge, who was scratched on the morning of the Derby when an injury to his left front ankle was detected, after making the final payment to former partner David Lanzman, who bred and initially raced I Want Revenge. Lanzman had sold his half-interest in the colt to IEAH after I Want Revenge stamped himself as the Derby favorite in an impressive victory in the 2009 Wood Memorial (gr. I).
But the subsequent injury and a legal dispute between the former partners has kept the son of Stephen Got Even off the track since the Wood victory. Following the Derby, California owner Lanzman sued IEAH, claiming the New York-based partnership group had sold interests in I Want Revenge to other parties in violation of the sale agreement. IEAH countersued, contending that Lanzman and trainer Jeff Mullins knew of I Want Revenge’s injury before it was announced on Derby Day.
Despite the colt’s lengthy absence from the track, Iavarone said IEAH believes I Want Revenge can return to his previous form. "There is every reason to believe he can return as a top-class horse," Iavarone said. "Dr. (Larry) Bramlage said he had made a remarkable recovery."
Upon receipt of IEAH’s final payment of $550,000 for the remaining interest in I Want Revenge, the suit filed by Lanzman was dismissed, according to the other’s attorney, Mike Meuser.
"From beginning to end, this was always simply a matter of requiring IEAH to honor its obligations to Mr. Lanzman," Meuser said. "After one year and a lot of legal prodding, IEAH has finally satisfied those obligations."