"We took X-rays two or three weeks ago," La Penta said Tuesday. "He's not healing as quickly as we had hoped. . . . I'm going to talk to Will Farish to see if he'll entertain thoughts of running him as a 4-year-old."

Will Farish was sold a majority interest in War Pass last year and he is expected to go to stud next spring at Farish’s Lane’s End Farm. However there is little to gain, and chances are remote with War Pass racing again. War Pass has already proved he is a champion by winning all four of his starts last year, which included the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile.

War Pass has not raced since the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct in April, as after the race he was found to have a small fracture in his left front ankle. War pass is currently at Saratoga with his trainer Nick Zito.

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Kentucky Derby favorite War Pass is no longer a contender because of a leg injury likely to take the colt out for a few months. (AP Images)

One of our favorite’s War Pass, will miss next month's Kentucky Derby because of a minor leg injury.

Trainer Nick Zito said Saturday that X-rays showed a slight fracture in War Pass' front left ankle.

"It's unfortunate — it just wasn't meant to be, maybe," said Zito. "It's a shame because he has all the ability in the world. He's one of the best I've ever had."

Zito noticed something was wrong with War Pass during his pre-Derby workouts.

"We had some good days, but we started to get some bad days," Zito said. "We were getting to crunch time and I was getting these funny things, and I just couldn't get through it."

Zito said the fracture occurred recently and that a veterinarian suggested the colt probably injured the ankle in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, where War Pass finished second behind Tale of Ekati.

"The race took its toll, but when he got back to the barn… he was great — that's the heart he's got," Zito said.

War Pass was unbeaten in four races in his championship campaign and had one win in three starts this year.

Zito said equine surgeon Dr. Larry Bramlage would be consulted early next week. The trainer said it's too soon to know if surgery will be needed, but said the colt will likely be sidelined for a while.

"So what I've got to do is give him a few months off, see the healing process and go through all the motions," he said.

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War Pass has the most success on the front end. (AP Images)

The running styles preferred by this year’s leading Derby contenders could have a significant impact on the outcome when the most exciting two minutes in sports reaches its climax. The overflow field of 20 will dictate the tactics of many Derby starters, and the favorites are no exception.

Of the top-five contenders, WarPass and Big Brown have had the most success on the front end. This tactic could backfire if the two find themselves in a pace duel over the testing 12 furlongs of the Derby.

Pyro has ignited the Derby scene this spring with two off-the-pace victories in the Risen Star Stakes and the Louisiana Derby. With a similar effort in Saturday’s Gr. 1 Blue Grass Stakes, Pyro will be considered by many as the most likely benefactor of a pressured pace set by War Pass and Big Brown.

Tale of Ekati, who broke a string of poor starts, got the best of War Pass in the Wood Memorial with a stalking trip that could also reward him at Churchill Downs. The large field could be a disadvantage, however, as he will spend a lengthy time at the gate where his previous problems haunted him.

Gr. 1 Santa Anita Derby winner Colonel John looks to have all the ingredients needed. His race at Santa Anita was impressive. After a perfect beginning, the smooth striding colt encountered traffic and was shuffled back on the final turn. He was content to ease off the throttle while waiting for a clear path to open and when given room he cruised to a commanding victory. Colonel John’s mature disposition could reward him on Derby Day.

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War Pass has a lot to prove this Saturday in the $750,000 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct. (AP Images)

Since his disappointing finish in the Tampa Bay Derby he’s run a promising workout at Palm Meadows Training Center, running four furlongs in: 47.40.

“It was a solid work,” said Zito, “If he wasn’t gonna give us that, we couldn’t even think of (putting him in the Wood). He looked like his old self, he was happy.”

Starting from post five in a 10 horse field, War Pass’ trainer Nick Zito is showing some concern.

“He’s right in the middle, so they kind of got him squeezed, I would have preferred if he was in or out, but hopefully he’ll be able to get away from there,” said Zito. “I don’t care if they run with him providing he gets a shot to run. Just please let him get away from there and not get beat up.”

With other contenders such as Court Vision, Tale of Ekati, and Giant Moon in the 1 1/8-mile race, this race will be an interesting proving ground for War Pass to regain his former serious contender status.

“Cornelio (Velasquez, War Pass’ jockey) will let him fly no matter what, and from what I can see, he’s going to put in a very good effort.”

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War Pass is hoping for redemption at the Gr. 1 Wood Memorial. (AP Images)

Going into Saturday’s Tampa Bay Derby, overwhelming favorite WarPass had an obvious battle plan. With the his ultimate goal looming on the horizon and just one prep race left, the one-dimensional runner was obligated to use the same tactics he had built his reputation on: going to the front and improving his position. However, sooner or later horses that require the lead are forced out of their comfort zone and the Tampa Bay Derby was that occasion.

Unfocused at the start, War Pass was off a tad slow and was immediately put under pressure from rivals’ intents on making him work hard for the front. The squeeze was on. Observers would soon find out if War Pass would relax without the lead and if he could attack late. Not on this day. Appearing uncomfortable behind horses, he made a middle move but failed to reach serious contention and was not pressured late by his rider in a last-place finish. The 2007 Juvenile Champion became an also-ran for the first time.

On the post-race comment that War Pass had a fever just a few days before the race, owner Bob LaPenta said, “He’s been checked over completely and we haven’t found a thing wrong with him. The whole day was a calamity of errors. But there is one thing I can guarantee you – going into the race, there was nothing wrong with that horse.” War Pass’s connections aren’t saying “whoa” in the tight spot they’ve found themselves in.

The colt remains on his original game plan and will look for redemption in the Gr. 1 Wood Memorial. Give him another chance.

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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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Pyro and Shaun Bridgmohan took the Louisiana Derby. (AP Images)

For the cream of the sophomore crop, all roads lead to Louisville in the spring. With this in mind the connections of Derby favorites War Pass and Pyro have chosen different routes for their charges, but the ultimate destination remains the same. These two overachievers have distinguished themselves as the key players on this year’s Kentucky Derby stage, drawing away from their peers in the minds of astute handicappers.

War Pass, trained by cagey veteran Nick Zito, has taken a passive approach to his Derby preparation. Last year’s juvenile champion was in no hurry to start his 3-year-old campaign and made his first appearance in a non-descript allowance race on the Fountain of Youth undercard at Gulfstream. The result was an easy gate-to-wire win that extended his undefeated status but was little more than an extended workout.

Pyro, under the clever tutelage of Steve Asmussen, has been gaining valuable racing experience while building a fan club that now equals that of his juvenile nemesis. Unable to put a dent in War Pass’s armor in three attempts as a juvenile, the slow-learner has caught fire this year. Impressive wins in the Risen Star Stakes and Louisiana Derby and his versatile winning tactics have moved him to the top of the sophomore class.

War Pass has landed another soft spot in Saturday’s 8.5 furlong Gr. 3 Tampa Bay Derby, while Pyro has the Gr. 1 Blue Grass on April 12 at nine furlongs circled on his calendar. Different routes quickly approaching the same destination – Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May.

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War Pass runs at Gulfstream Park later on Sunday. (AP Images)

After the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park is finished Sunday we suggest you stick around to watch Race 10, a $60,000 allowance race, named the Silver Series Purse, where War Pass will be making his first start since his victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile four months ago. War Pass is best known for his four victorious starts in 2007 and also being named the Eclipse Award-winning 2-year-old male.

War Pass has been in constant training this winter at the Palm Meadows training center, 45 minutes northwest of Gulfstream Park. Other than a brief touch of colic last month, which trainer Nick Zito said War Pass recovered from very quickly, the horse has had a smooth transition from age 2 to 3.

"He looks really good," Zito said. "He's a real sight to see."

The Silver Series, at one mile, filled Zito's desire of bringing back War Pass in a one-turn race and against soft competition.

Zito wants War Pass to have three starts before the Kentucky Derby on May 3. Sunday's race is designed to move him along to next month's Grade 3, $300,000 Tampa Bay Derby. After that, War Pass will head to either the Grade 1, $750,000 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 5, or the Grade 1, $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on April 12.

"I just want him to have a good experience coming back," Zito said. "To me, that's the most important thing. Then we can evaluate where we stand."

Two of the five entered horses have won stakes, but none have ever raced in a graded stakes.

War Pass 2007 Stats are: Starts 4; 1st-2nd-3rd 4-0-0; Earnings $1,397,400; Rank 10.

The Fountain of Youth scheduled post time is 5:15 p.m. ET and the Silver Series Purse Race 10 post time is 5:44 p.m. ET.

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