Bodog Beat

War Pass loses Tampa Bay Downs. (AP Images)

Trainer Nick Zito still has no explanation for War Pass’s first loss in 6 races last Saturday at the $300,000 Tampa Bay Derby. Surprising winner Big Truck took advantage of the 1-20 favorite’s poor performance by making an excellent sprint in the final stretch of the race, beating Atoned at the wire.

“All the preliminary tests we've done are good," Zito said. "He scoped clean after the race, his airways are great, and he had no infection. He seems fine although he did have some cuts on his left leg when he came back that he probably sustained when jostled around leaving the gate. We'll take some x-rays and run some additional tests and see what happens this week. If everything passes, we'll go on from there."

If the tests go well War Pass should be running in his next race in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 5.

"If all the tests are negative and he's doing okay, he'll go back into training and work, and if he doesn't work good then forget about it," Zito said. "Hopefully he'll move on from this race, and we'll just be able to put a line through it."

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