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War Pass injured, forced to miss Derby Champion WAR PASS (Cherokee Run) has suffered a leg injury that has knocked him out of the $2 million Kentucky Derby (G1), trainer Nick Zito said Saturday. X-rays have revealed a small fracture in the sesamoid in the colt's left front ankle. Veterinarian Dr. Rick Fischer discovered the fracture that Zito said would likely require War Pass to be on the sidelines for "a few months." Zito said that equine surgeon Dr. Larry Bramlage would be consulted on the injury early next week, but it's too early to know if surgery would be required. "It's at the back of the ankle, and it pulled away from the sesamoid," Zito said. "It's very small. In fact, he (Fischer) took the picture again and had a technician look at the digital images, because there's no swelling there. He's actually walking sound." Zito said the fracture had occurred recently and Fischer had suggested that the colt had probably suffered the injury during the running of the Wood Memorial (G1)at Aqueduct on April 5. War Pass finish second to TALE OF EKATI (Tale of the Cat) in that race after battling for the lead through rapid early fractions. War Pass had shipped to Zito's barn at Churchill Downs on the day after the Wood Memorial, and for several days the colt appeared to be thriving in his new surroundings. But Zito and his staff began to feel that something was amiss with War Pass, but couldn't put a finger on a problem because of the lack of swelling or other obvious physical symptoms. "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. The Wood was a killer -- anybody who saw it knows it was a gut-wrenching performance. The race took its toll, but when he got back to the barn at Belmont, he was great -- that's the heart he's got." Zito said that owner Robert LaPenta and William S. Farish of Lane's End Farm, the Versailles, Kentucky, breeding facility where War Pass will stand as a stallion following his racing days, were consulted after Fischer offered his diagnosis. "Obviously it's very disappointing for the LaPenta family, it's disappointing for the Farish family," Zito said. "Both families took it well. And he's extremely important to my family and my racing family, because these people put their heart and soul in the Derby dream. So they're taking it good because they love the horse, and the horse will be with us. The LaPentas took it as great as any owner could take it. He's grateful for having a champion -- and it could be worse. "So what I've got to do is give him a few months off, see the healing process, and go through all the motions," Zito continued. "I'll take the pictures over to Dr. Bramlage on Monday, see what he thinks and we'll go from there." Zito, a two-time winner of the Kentucky Derby, and LaPenta have another Derby contender in COOL COAL MAN (Mineshaft), the winner of the Fountain of Youth S. (G2) at Gulfstream Park. Another Zito-trained Derby hopeful is Four Roses Thoroughbreds' ANAK NAKAL (Victory Gallop), who won the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) last fall at Churchill Downs. But War Pass, who was unbeaten in four races in his championship campaign and had one win in three starts this year, was Zito's brightest hope for a third victory in the Kentucky Derby. "We'll see what happens -- time will tell," Zito said. "It's unfortunate -- it just wasn't meant to be, maybe. It's a shame, because he has all the ability in the world. He's one of the best I've ever had." War Pass goes to the sidelines with a career record of 7-5-1-0 and earnings of $1,583,400. He led all contenders for Kentucky Derby 134 in graded earnings with $1,470,000, and his defection will open the door for another horse in the crowded field of Derby contenders to make the maximum field of 20 horses in that race. The roster of horses hoping to make the Derby remains at more than 30, but only the 20 horses with the highest totals in graded earnings will be allowed to enter the race.
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