IEAH buys half of I Want Revenge

After more than 1 1/2 weeks of negotiations, IEAH Stables on Monday purchased a 50 percent interest in Kentucky Derby contender I Want Revenge from the colt's breeder and owner, David Lanzman.

I Want Revenge comes off a powerful 8 1/2-length win in the Gotham Stakes, in which he earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 113. He is scheduled to race next in the Grade 1, $750,000 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on Saturday. Based at Hollywood Park, I Want Revenge is scheduled to fly to New York on Wednesday.

The deal had its completion delayed last week because Michael Iavarone, the co-president of IEAH Stables, was in Dubai, where the stable's Kip Deville was competing. The purchase price was not disclosed.

"I couldn't be happier," Lanzman, a mortgage broker, said on Monday afternoon. "I got everything I wanted. From the start, keeping control of the horse was my No. 1 priority. These guys were great to deal with. They allowed me to keep control of the horse. Jeff Mullins will continue to train him, and Joe Talamo will continue to ride him.

"I didn't get into this to watch someone else do well with my horse. But I'm fine standing next to someone else."

IEAH won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness last year with Big Brown, who was named champion 3-year-old colt.

"We're thrilled to have such an enormous talent join our stable," Iavarone said. "He appears to be improving at the right time and I'm looking forward to a great working relationship with the pre-existing connections."

I Want Revenge, by Stephen Got Even out of the stakes-winning Roy mare Meguial, was second to Pioneerof the Nile in the CashCall Futurity in December at Hollywood Park.