| Nick Zito is convinced he can win this year's Kentucky | | | | and then slowly bring him back and condition him up to |
| Derby as he did twice in 1991 with Strike Gold and in | | | | that mile-and-a-quarter." |
| 1994 with Go for Gin. Now; he is 0 for 16, but this is no | | | | With this preparation everybody feels War Pass |
| prove of lack of effort. Over the past two years he | | | | should be in very good shape for the Derby. The |
| didn't have a horse participating in the race. | | | | same feeling is for Cool Coal Man that started this |
| But now Zito has a serious steady Derby contender | | | | year season with an amazing victory in the Fountain of |
| starting with top horse War Pass and Fountain of | | | | Youth. His final preparation race would be the Blue |
| Youth winner Cool Coal Man; both owned by Robert | | | | Grass at Keenland on April 12th. |
| La Penta. Also; he has Stakes winner Fierce Wind | | | | LaPenta also said Nick Zito has always been a |
| which is property of Sam F. Davies. | | | | consistent trainer on his Derby preparations, and he |
| After a front-running 4 3/4-length race in the Breeders' | | | | always makes good choices with the race selection |
| Cup Juvenile; War Pass has been the first Derby | | | | on the preparation stage for the Derby.War Pass, |
| prospect since completing a perfect 2-year-old | | | | ridden by jockey Cornelio Velasquez, has proven to |
| campaign. The amazing colt opened this season with | | | | be a very good opponent, with the biggest question |
| win No. 5, a 7 1/2-length romp over lightly regarded | | | | whether the colt has the preparation to maintain his |
| opponents at Gulfstream Park on February 24. That | | | | speed over 1 1/4 miles. |
| same day, Cool Coal Man won for the fourth time in | | | | LaPenta bought War Pass for $180,000 at the 2006 |
| five starts in the Fountain of Youth. | | | | Keeneland September yearling sale. The next spring, |
| With the 1 1/4-mile Derby in seven weeks, War Pass | | | | the son of 1994 BC Sprint winner Cherokee Run was |
| moves into the final stages of his preparing season | | | | up for sale but was pulled out with ankle chips. Cool |
| when he takes on six challengers in Saturday's Tampa | | | | Coal Man brought $200,000 at the Keeneland sale, but |
| Bay Derby. A final race is set for the Wood Memorial | | | | failed to meet the owner's reserve bid of $850,000 at |
| at Aqueduct on April 5, and then it's on to Churchill | | | | another sale. |
| Downs and the Derby on May 3rd. | | | | "We haven't won another Derby (since 1994), and we |
| "There's nobody better at preparing a horse for a | | | | had all those chances in 2005," Zito said. "Great |
| Derby than Nick Zito," LaPenta said. "What we were | | | | expectations bring great disappointments....I would like to |
| looking to do (after the BC Juvenile) is just rest him | | | | have peace. I would like to win another Derby. |