by Pete Denk

War Pass drew off to a convincing 4 3/4-length victory in the $1,832,000 Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Monmouth Park on Saturday.

Undefeated in four starts, War Pass will be the prohibitive favorite for champion two-year-old male honors.

Pyro, who also finished second to War Pass in the Champagne Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park, rallied for second again. Kodiak Kowboy finished third.

Ridden by Cornelio Velasquez, War Pass set fractions of :22.76, :45.56, and 1:09.65 on the sealed, sloppy main track and was never headed en route to victory in 1:42.76.

“Globalization tried him and it didn’t matter,” winning trainer Nick Zito said. “He ran faster fractions than [Indian Blessing ran in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1)], and he just kept going. This is a well-deserved champion.”

Pyro’s jockey Shaun Bridgmohan said it seemed many horses did not handle the sloppy surface very well.

“The track is terrible,” Bridgmohan said. “Unlike last time when he was in the bridle, I had to ride him today just to keep his position. He was spinning his wheels early, not getting the traction he needed, but he still managed to finish second.”

Zito said War Pass is as talented as any horse he has trained.

“I’d have to say he’s as good as anything I’ve ever had my hands on, because he’s undefeated,” Zito said. “He’s got tons and tons of talent.”

By Cherokee Run, War Pass is out of the Mr. Prospector mare Vue, a multiple stakes-placed winner who has also produced Grade 1 winner Oath. He was bred in Kentucky by Cherry Valley Farm.

Owner Robert LaPenta purchased War Pass for $180,000 at the 2006 Keeneland September yearling sale. LaPenta pinhooks his yearling purchases, but he kept War Pass after the colt was withdrawn from the 2007 Fasig-Tipton March sale of selected two-year-olds in training due to ankle chips.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Pete Denk is a Thoroughbred Times staff writer