Horse Racing Courier

posted by Kalina on May 2

I Want Revenge, the favorite betting choice for the race, was scratched the day of the running, because of a hot spot found on the horse’s left front ankle. Trainer Jeff Mullins found a hot spot on his left front ankle in the morning.

The X-ray and ultrasound showed nothing, but a flex test showed tenderness. With the track promising to be sloppy (as it was through the Eight Belles) Mullins and owner David Lanzman did not want to chance the colt’s wellbeing.

“When the word came out that running could hurt the horse, I looked at both doctors and said, ‘Then this is no debate,”’ Lanzman said. “‘What are we talking about? We’ll fight another day.”’

With I Want Revenge out of the Derby, Friesian Fire takes over as the morning favorite.

I Want Revenge ridden by Joe Talamo were going to break from post number 13. I have actually had the opportunity to meet Talamo, at Santa Anita last year.

“I’m just glad the horse is OK,” Talamo said. “It could have been a lot worse. Something could have happened on the track. I’m just glad it happened in the stall.”

Mullins does not believe the injury to be career threatening, but they are going to give the colt some time off before deciding what to do next.

“I’ve been in this business kind of all my life,” he said. “Most of the things I’ve learned in this business I’ve learned by hard knocks in more ways than one. Your biggest dream is to get here, but the biggest nightmare is to get to race day and have to scratch. Right now I don’t think it’s really sunk in that much, but pretty disappointing.”