War Pass, last year’s 2-year-old champion who suffered his first shocking defeat finishing last in the March 15 Tampa Bay Derby, will not run in the May 3 Kentucky Derby after X-rays revealed a small fracture in the sesamoid bone of the colt’s left front ankle.
In his last start, War Pass set the pace and finished second in the April 5 Wood Memorial. Trainer Nick Zito said yesterday it’s too early to know if the colt will require surgery, but he’ll likely be sidelined for at least a few months.
War Pass, owned by Robert LaPenta, was unbeaten in four races in his championship campaign and had one win in three starts this year. The colt has earnings of $1.58 million and led all Derby contenders in graded earnings with $1.47 million.