When I Want Revenge came into the Aqueduct barn of Rick Dutrow Jr., in April, the trainer was hopeful but not overly optimistic the colt would be anything like he was before the injury that cost him about a year of training and nearly ended his career.

Scratched as the morning-line favorite only hours before the 2009 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) because of a filling in his front fetlock, the injury was eventually determined to be much more serious in nature. Ultrasounds and MRIs showed that the son of Stephen Got Even had significant ligament damage. Nobody was sure if he would ever race again.

But after months of treatment at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital and recuperating at Emerald Farm–both in Lexington–4-year-old I Want Revenge has made a remarkable recovery, one that has astounded Dutrow, who took over training duties from Jeff Mullins.

"He's ahead of schedule. I just don't get it; it's amazing. Since he's come to me, he's asking for more every day," said Dutrow. "Every step of the way, he's ahead of schedule. He's waiting on us