WAR
PASS: BREEDERS CUP JUVENILE WINNER
Once more, War Pass has proven that no one can run with him. Robert LaPenta's
undefeated colt set a fast pace on a sloppy Monmouth Park strip and took
command early on the far turn, finishing up nicely to register a 4 3/4-length
in the $2 million Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) Oct. 27.
Favored War Pass made it consecutive front-running victories for the
favorites in the day's 2-year-old races. The son of 1994 Breeders' Cup
Sprint (gr. I) winner Cherokee Run romped home in his fourth successive
victory.
Pyro ran on to capture the place slot, followed distantly by Kodiak Kowboy
third and Tale of Ekati fourth.
Nick Zito trains War Pass for longtime client LaPenta. War Pass scored
in Belmont Park's Champagne Stakes (gr. I) by 1 1/2 lengths over Pyro
three weeks ago.
"He is an incredible horse," Zito told ESPN. "He
was all after-burners. He just doesn't want to get beat."
War Pass broke alertly for Cornelio Velasquez from his two-post and quickly
grabbed a relaxed lead, with Salute the Sarge and then Globalization trying
to keep up early. As they reached the backstretch, it was evident War
Pass would be in contention. After turning in fractions of 22.76, 45:56,
and 1:09.65. War Pass seemed very comfortable. He moved away from his
field by the second turn, widening to three lengths, and led by nearly
double digits in the stretch. War Pass stopped the timer in 1:42.76.
“My horse had a lot of speed," Velasquez said. "He
wanted to go to the lead. At the quarter-pole, I asked and I had a lot
of horse
in the last part of the race.”
"He just kept going," Zito said. "I was very surprised
we got away from Globalization. I had a feeling he’d (Globalization)
go for us, but we beat him at Saratoga. He couldn’t outrun us there.
He wasn’t going to outrun us today.”
Out of the Mr. Prospector mare Vue, War Pass was bred in Kentucky by
Cherry Valley Farm. He was a $180,000 Keeneland yearling purchase. He
has banked $1,397,400.
War Pass, who earned $1.08 million for his victory, returned $6.40, $3.80,
and $2.80 as the 2-1 favorite. Pyro, ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan, was good
for $4.60 and $3.60, while Kodiak Kowboy, with John Valezquez aboard,
paid $6.40 in the show slot.
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