NEWS
War Pass scores easily in 2008 debut
Posted: Sunday, February 24, 2008 7:47 PM
WAR PASS POWERS CLEAR AT GULFSTREAM
Bob Coglianese photo
by Mike Curry
War Pass, the 2007 champion two-year-old male, started his Triple Crown campaign with a 7 1/2-length romp as the 1-to-20 favorite in a one-mile allowance race on Sunday at Gulfstream Park.
His effortless win capped a memorable day for owner Robert LaPenta and trainer Nick Zito, who combined to take the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) with Cool Coal Man in the previous race.
Racing against a field of four three-year-olds, War Pass opened a clear lead while under restraint through an opening quarter in :23.94 and a half-mile in :46.72. He powered well clear in early stretch and coasted to a comfortable victory over the Zito-trained Web Gem with no urging from jockey Cornelio Velasquez. War Pass completed one mile in 1:36.38 on a track rated as fast.
“He’s a very happy horse," Velasquez said. "He’s the best horse in the country right now. He’s better than last year, he galloped out really strong. He wanted to win today.”
War Pass won the Champagne Stakes (G1) and Bessemer Trust Breeders Cup Juvenile (G1) to clinch the Eclipse Award as champion two-year-old male and closed as the 6-to-1 second choice among individual betting interests in the first Kentucky Derby Future Wager pool on February 10.
"He’s unbelievable," winning trainer Nick Zito said. "That’s what we wanted for him. Three weeks from now [in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) on Mar. 15], it will be a little tougher."
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Mike Curry is Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor
