War Pass Checks Out
War Pass checks out fine in preliminary tests following his perplexing last-place performance as the 1-20 favorite in the Tampa Bay Derby, trainer Nick Zito told DRF:
More tests and X-rays are planned. If War Pass is indeed fine, he may start next in the Wood at Aqueduct on April 5, although owner Robert LaPenta is reluctant to commit to that plan at this point. “At this point, we’re just going to play everything by ear,” he said Sunday (NYT).
Zito seems more certain of the Wood, and that’s not the only matter on which owner and trainer disagree. Following the Tampa Bay Derby, LaPenta offered up a fever earlier in the week — previously unreported, and unmentioned in a Thursday conversation reported by Steve Haskin — as a possible excuse, but Zito denied any illness:
An injury might still come to light explaining the juvenile champion’s dismal run, although he hardly needs a physical excuse — his trip is enough of one, considering that he was banged around at the break, caught close between two rivals, and placed in an outside stalking position (check out the head-on view on CalRacing). All were new experiences for undefeated War Pass; none were to his liking. He looked like a need-to-lead horse out of his element, unable to overcome adversity, spent by the stretch.
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Tampa Bay Derby winner Big Truck earned a 93 Beyer for his gritty victory over Atoned. Trainer Barclay Tagg suggested after that the NY-bred colt could start next in the April 12 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream or might train up to the Kentucky Derby, still seven weeks away.
