NEWS
Two-year-old male Eclipse to War Pass
Posted: Monday, January 21, 2008 9:59 PM
2007 CHAMPION TWO-YEAR-OLD-MALE WAR PASS
Adam Coglianese/NYRA photo
Street Sense proved in 2007 that a Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner could indeed return the following year to capture the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1).
Trainer Nick Zito hopes that feat can be duplicated this season by champion two-year-old male War Pass.
The Cherokee Run colt capped an unbeaten 2007 season with runaway victories in the Champagne Stakes (G1) and the Juvenile to claim the award over finalists Kodiak Kowboy and Pyro.
War Pass dominated every time he took to the track, winning his four starts by a combined 14½ lengths.
Owner Robert LaPenta purchased War Pass for $180,000 in the 2006 Keeneland September yearling sale and pulled him from the Fasig-Tipton Florida select two-year-olds in training sale when he developed an ankle chip in his preparation with consignor David Scanlon. War Pass joined Zito’s barn after undergoing surgery to remove the small chip.
“He’s been all class, all along,” Zito said. “There are not too many horses who have won the Champagne and the Breeders’ Cup.”
War Pass joined only Fly So Free and Timber Country in that select group and became the first undefeated Juvenile winner since Vindication in 2002. He now will bid to become the second Juvenile winner to follow up with a victory in the Derby.
“It’s a great thing, an exciting horse,” Zito said. “Hopefully we can continue it.”
