The Return of Revolutionary
OK, my top pick for the 2013 Kentucky Derby may not have come to fruition, but at least the colt I placed the super jinx on last spring is back and winning as a four-year-old. Revolutionary, the winner of the Withers and Louisiana Derby, before finishing third in the run for the roses, returned to the races in fine fashion today. Making his first start since June’s Belmont Stakes, the WinStar Farm charge scored a facile half-length victory over the graded stakes winner, Falling Sky in a one mile allowance this afternoon at Gulfstream Park.
The son of War Pass and Runup the Colors may not have won like 3-10 shots are supposed to, but nonetheless, the workmanlike winning performance serves as a solid return, and one that should set him will for life as a highly regarded older horses.
Breaking a little slow under rider, Javier Castellano, the heavy favorite was maneuvered to the outside for clear running near the back of the compact five-horse field. As Falling Sky went winging it alone on the lead through good fractions of :23.78, :46.41, and a solid six furlongs in 1:09.84, horse and rider put themselves in a winning position on the far turn. Despite this, there was a brief moment when it looked like today might not be his day, but he quickly put that thought to rest coming out of the turn.
Falling Sky proved a pesky adversary, but Revolutionary exerted his class from the outside. Powering by 2012 Gulfstream Park Derby winner, Reveron, the Todd Pletcher trainee then methodically moved to, and past Falling Sky in deep stretch. The margin at the wire was plenty for Revolutionary and Castellano, as neither looked to be all out in the last fifty yards. The final time of 1:35.07 was further proof that a very good horse was back in good form.
The winner raised his career mark to 4-1-3 from nine starts, with earnings just a biscuit short of $1.05 million. As for what’s next for Revolutionary, look for him to take a pass on the slow road back to racing’s elite, and jump right back into the deep end of the pool. Four weeks from tomorrow, Gulfstream will host its premier event for older males, the Grade 1 Donn Handicap, and according to Pletcher, Revolutionary will be part of the field.
To a strong contingent of older dirt males of 2014, led by toughies like: Mucho Macho Man, Will Take Charge, and Game On Dude, we can now add the name Revolutionary to the list. We should learn a lot more whether or not he truly belongs with the big boys in the Donn.