War Pass Tribute

I know I haven't blogged in a really long time, but I had to today.

War Pass was foaled April 17, 2005 in Kentucky. He was a bay colt by Cherokee Run out of Vue. Nick Zito trained him throughout his racing career. He was sold at the Keeneland September yearling sale for $180,000.

War Pass kicked off his spectacular two-year-old season with a commanding maiden win at Saratoga in August by 2 3/4 lengths. In September he followed up with a gate-to-wire victory in an allowance at Saratoga by 5 1/2 lengths. On October 3, 2007 he led all the way once again to win the G1 Champagne Stakes. War Pass went on to be the post time favorite for the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile and won by 4 3/4 lengths over a sloppy Monmouth Park track. He closed out his two-year-old season with four wins in four starts and $1,397,400 in earnings. His wins also earned him the honor of the Eclipse Award for Top 2-Year-Old Colt.

At the start of 2008, War Pass was a stand-out in the crowd of Kentucky Derby hopefuls. He began his three-year-old season with an allowance win by 7 1/2 lengths at Gulfstream. In the G3 Tampa Bay Derby he was bumped at the start and didn't secure his familiar position at the lead. He rallied to third in the field of seven, but stopped badly and finished last, beaten by 23 lengths. It was also his first race at longer than a mile.

His luck didn't get any better when he was shipped to Aqueduct for the Wood Memorial. The trip was difficult for War Pass who suffered a cut lip that required stitches. In the race on April 5, 2008 he took the lead early as usual but tired in the homestretch and was caught in the final strides by Tale of Ekati.

Following the Wood Memorial, it was discovered he had a minor fracture in his left foreleg and he was officially out of the Kentucky Derby. He made a full recovery, but it was concluded that he would never run again and hew as retired to stud in September 2008. He retired with a record of five wins and one second in seven starts and $1,583,400 in earnings.

In 2009, War Pass entered stud at Lane's End with a fee of $30,000 and sired 63 reported foals. He covered 83 mares in his second season at Lane's End for a fee of $20,000. He was to stand for $15,000 in his 2011 season. He returned to Lane's End from Widden Stud in Australia December 23 with no sign of illness or injury. The five-year-old stallion was turned out the morning of December 24 and died several hours later.

RIP War Pass. You were one of my favorite Kentucky Derby hopefuls. You will be missed.