Big Brown owner IEAH buys share of Derby contender

The owners of 2008 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown have themselves a top contender for the Triple Crown races this year after purchasing a 50 percent interest in I Want Revenge.

IEAH Stables completed the deal Monday with breeder/owner David Lanzman five days before I Want Revenge runs in the $750,000 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct Racetrack — a final prep race before the Kentucky Derby on May 2.

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

The deal was put together by bloodstock agent Nick Sallusto. The purchase price was not disclosed.

I Want Revenge won the Gotham Stakes by 8 1/2 lengths at Aqueduct last month, and is the likely favorite for the 1 1/8-mile Wood. IEAH now owns two of the top 3-year-olds in I Want Revenge and the filly Stardom Bound, the leading contender for the Kentucky Oaks.

A son of Stephen Got Even, I Want Revenge won just once in his first six starts, all on synthetic surfaces in California. He did run second to Derby hopeful Pioneerof the Nile in the CashCall Futurity and then finished third behind him in the Robert B Lewis Stakes on Feb. 7.

But when the colt was shipped east to run on the dirt at Aqueduct, the colt responded with an impressive win that put Lanzman on the Derby trail for the first time.

Jeff Mullins will remain the colt's trainer, and Joe Talamo will continue to ride I Want Revenge.

"I'm thrilled about the partnership," the Los Angeles-based Lanzman said. "I'm especially ecstatic to be where we're at because this is only the second horse I've ever bred out of my first broodmare."

Lanzman campaigned Squirtle Squirt, who won the 2001 Breeders' Cup Sprint.

IEAH became the majority owner of Big Brown after purchasing a 75 percent interest in the colt from Paul Pompa Jr. for a reported $3 million. Big Brown was pulled up around the far turn in the Belmont Stakes and finished last in his Triple Crown bid.

Big Brown was syndicated for a reported $50 million and is standing at Three Chimneys Farm in Lexington, Ky.