I Want Revenge goes to Rick Dutrow's barn

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - While this year's Wood Memorial winner, Eskendereya, will head to Louisville as the favorite for the Kentucky Derby, I Want Revenge - last year's Wood winner and morning-line Derby favorite until being scratched the morning of the race - has returned to training at Aqueduct.

Michael Iavarone, president of the IEAH Stables, confirmed Wednesday that his group completed a deal to buy out partner David Lanzman of his remaining interest in I Want Revenge for $550,000, and the colt has been shipped to trainer Rick Dutrow's Aqueduct barn. Iavarone said the deal was completed last week following an encouraging report from Dr. Larry Bramlage on I Want Revenge's physical condition. I Want Revenge was scratched the morning of last year's Kentucky Derby due to an ankle injury.

"It was overwhelmingly encouraging and really motivated us to go and close the deal,'' Iavarone said.

I Want Revenge, previously trained by Jeff Mullins, catapulted to Derby favoritism with victories in the Gotham and Wood Memorial at Aqueduct. He won the Gotham by 8 1/2 lengths before overcoming a stumbling start to win the Wood by 1 1/2 lengths. IEAH purchased half-interest in I Want Revenge prior to the Wood. Following the Kentucky Derby, several lawsuits had been filed by IEAH and Lanzman, but there are no more legal matters pending between the two sides.

Iavarone said that it is his and his partners' "expectations and our hopes'' that I Want Revenge could return to his previous level as a 4-year-old.

"We have every reason to believe that, based on a guy like Bramlage, who's one of the most respected vets in the world telling us that he's very comfortable with him returning the same level that he left,'' Iavarone said. "Until proven otherwise I'm going to go along with what he said."