I wanted to make note of this sooner, but my busy schedule has prevented me from doing so. War Pass, winner of the 2007 Breeders Cup Juvenile, is no longer with us after collapsing in his paddock on Christmas Eve. He had recently returned from Australia. This is shocking news for me. The dark son of Cherokee Run was one of my very favorite horses and I followed his career from the start until the finish.
War Pass began his career at Saratoga on July 28, 2007 with a 2 3/4 length maiden breaking score. He followed that up with a 5 1/2 length allowance win. It was clear from the very start that he has brilliant early speed. In his third start, the Nick Zito trainee beat favored Ready’s Image and Pyro in the Champagne Stakes by 1 1/2 lengths. I watched the Champagne at Keeneland and I remember talking to TVG’s Todd Schrupp about the race afterwards. Todd, if you’re reading this, you likely don’t remember, but I was very high on War Pass.
I can still remember to this day trainer Nick Zito saying that his horse would “fry” anyone that tried to go with him on the lead in the Breeders Cup Juvenile. He wasn’t kidding as his colt ran one of the best Breeders Cup races ever at Monmouth, splashing home to win by 4 3/4 lengths. He set very fast fractions of :45 2/5 and 1:09 3/5 and came home in 1:42 4/5. His Beyer Speed Figure of 113 is the largest number ever given to a winner of that race.
I sang War Pass’s praises to anyone who would listen. This is why I was very disappointed when he finally came to earth in the Tampa Bay Derby and again in the Wood Memorial. I had hoped to own one of his progeny someday, but that now seems virtually impossible unless a huge sum of money finds its way into my bank account. War Pass is one of the horses that will always have a special place in my heart. You’re gone but not forgotten, old boy.
Gradedstakes.com Social Media