This Week in Horse Racing

I Want Revenge is Back!

I Want Revenge, last year's morning line favorite for the Kentucky Derby until he was scratched the morning of the race, is back in training. Only hours before the Derby, it was discovered that Revenge had a filling in his front ankle and the injury was eventually determined to be significant ligament damage. It was doubted that the then three-year-old colt would ever race again. After being laid off for nearly ten months Revenge has made an almost miraculous recovery. If all goes well, I Want Revenge could go to the G2 Suburban Handicap at Belmont July 3 for his return to racing.

Paddy O'Prado Returns with Style in Colonial Turf

Following his third-place finish in the Kentucky Derby and sixth-place finish in the Preakness, Paddy O'Prado returned to the turf for a three-length victory in the G2 Colonial Turf Cup. Two Notch Road broke fast on the outside and sprinted to a two-length lead with Workin for Hops chasing back in second. Paddy O'Prado settled in fourth on the rail for much of the race. Late in the final turn he angled out to run three-wide and claimed the lead in the stretch, drawing away from dueling Two Notch Road and Workin for Hops. Workin for Hops drew away for second and Two Notch Road managed to hold on for third.

Afleet Express Flies to Pegasus Win

A son of Afleet Alex, Afleet Express claimed the lead and swept to a 1 3/4-length win in the G3 Pegasus Stakes in his stakes debut. Jackson Bend, favorite and third-place Preakness starter, finished fifth in the field of six. Fellow Preakness starter Schoolyard Dreams faded to last. Jackson Bend and Schoolyard Dreams dueled through the early going, setting slow fractions. Afleet Express relaxed in third with Afleet Again on his outside, and Soaring Empire and Nacho Friend in behind him. Three lengths covered the field in the early going. Jackson Bend took control in the far turn, but both horses faded in the stretch. Afleet Alex moved three-wide coming out of the turn and took control, holding on to win. Afleet Again and Soaring Empire rallied, but couldn't catch him, finishing second and third.

Golden Itiz Nabs Affirmed

Golden Itiz ran down Skipshot in the final strides to claim his stakes debut in the G3 Affirmed Handicap by a half-length. It was the colt's third consecutive victory after coming off a 11 1/4-length romp in an optional claiming allowance. Skipshot broke from the rail and angled toward the middle of the track going into the turn, forcing Golden Itiz and Ranger Heartley very wide. Ranger Heartley moved up to set a fast pace, Skipshot chased in second, and Golden Itiz settled for third. Skipshot moved up in the final turn to duel for the lead heading home. Ranger Heartley gave way in mid-stretch. Golden Itiz and Alphie's Bet both came with a powerful rally on the outside. Golden Itiz edged out a tiring Skipshot for the win. Alphie's Bet ran out of track and had to settle for third by a length after rallying from last.

Lady Shakespeare Sweeps By Three Rivals to Take New York

Lady Shakespeare rolled from last to first to claim a 2 3/4 length victory in the G2 New York Stakes over Belmont's turf. Seven horses were entered in the race, but Nehantic Kid and Sweet and Flawless scratched. Gozzip Girl stumbled badly at the break and threw Ramon Domingez to the ground, leaving only four horses. Dominguez walked off the course under his own power. Daveron claimed the early lead by two lengths right out of the gate and set slow early fractions. Ave settled on the inside in escond, Changing Skies was on the outside in third. Lady Shakespeare trailed the field in last. There was no change in the order through the backstretch and coming out of the final turn. Daveron held onto the lead as Ave edged up on the outside of her. Changing Skies and Lady Shakespeare continued to trail, making their moves. The four of them formed a line going into the stretch, but Lady Shakespeare swept by them all to win by two and a half. Changing Skies nabbed second and Ave faded slightly for third.

Shared Account Runs Down Pacesetter to Nab All Along

Shared Account posted a one-length victory in the G3 All Along Stakes. It was the four-year-old maare's first win of the year and her second stakes overall. Tizaqueena broke quickly and claimed her position on the lead out of the gate to set a steady pace. Casablanca Smile moved up on the outside to take second. Shared Account settled on the inside with Dynaslew a length back in fourth. Seven lengths covered the field into the backstretch. Turning for home, Tizaqueena battled to hold onto the lead as the rest of the field made their moves. Outside of her was Chile-bred Casablanca Smile and Shared Account. On the inside was Blind Date, behind early on but moved up along the rail to challenge. Into the final furlong Tizaqueena, Casablanca Smile and Shared Account battled for the lead. Shared Account found another gear and drew away to the win. Dynaslew made a late move between horses to challenge for second in a three-way photo. Dynaslew won the photo for second, a nose in front of Tizaqueena and Casablanca who dead-heated for third.

Broodmare, Safely Kept, Pensioned

The now 24-year-old mare Safely Kept has been pensioned from broodmare duties after she produced her last foal, an Empire Maker filly, May 17. She is the dam of ten foals including eight winners from nine starters including stakes winners Contrast and Peace Chant, both graded stakes-placed. She is also the granddam of stakes winner Welcome Home. As a racehorse, Safely Kept won 24 of her 31 races and earned $2,194,206. Twenty-two of her wins were in stakes. She ran second in the Breeders' Cup Sprint. Safely Kept won a race for the ages in the 1990 Breeders' Cup Sprint. She took a demanding lead right out of the gate and hooked up with English invader Dayjur in the stretch. The two dueled, both refusing to give in throughout the stretch. Dayjur started to draw away until he tried to jump a shadow and Safely Kept swept by him to win by a neck.

Battle Plan Retires

Battle Plan has been returned from racing because of a torn suspensory tendon in his right front leg that occurred during his second-place effort in the G1 Stephen Foster Handicap. The stallion is five years old. He missed nearly all of last season because of a hairline fracture of his cannon bone, but was undefeated in three starts in 2010 including the G2 New Orlands Handicap in his stakes debut. He retires with four wins from six starts. Breeding plans are undecided.