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