Revolutionary came from far back in the field of 14 to take the $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2), marking the WinStar Farm colt as one of the favorites for the Kentucky Derby (G1) May 4 at Churchill Downs.
After breaking somewhat tardy from post 3, Revolutionary was 12th along the inside going into the first turn. Javier Castellano guided his mount to the outside when he reached the backstretch, working his way up to the sixth spot by the time he reached the far turn. Still very wide coming into the stretch, the dark bay colt passed the pacesetters, then held off My Lute late to win by a long neck. Revolutionary completed 1 1/8 miles on the fast main track in 1:50.28.
“He didn’t turn a hair in the paddock,” said Elliott Walden, the president and chief executive officer of WinStar. “He went around there like a puppy dog. All those things matter (when it comes to Derby Day at Churchill Downs).”
Walden said Revolutionary would be sent to WinStar on Sunday before heading to Churchill Downs for final preparations for the Derby.
“Huge performance from him,” winning trainer Todd Pletcher said at Gulfstream Park. “Sometimes you lose ground like Revolutionary did ,but you get a clean run at it.”
Revolutionary has now won three straight starts, including a score in the Withers S. (G3) at Aqueduct. His Louisiana Derby win earned him 100 points on the new Kentucky Derby scoring system, which determines the 20 starters for the race. With a total of 110, Revolutionary is guaranteed a spot in the Derby starting gate.
