War Pass (USA)
April 17, 2005 – December 24, 2010
Cherokee Run (USA) x Vue (USA), by Mr. Prospector (USA)
Family 9-f
April 17, 2005 – December 24, 2010
Cherokee Run (USA) x Vue (USA), by Mr. Prospector (USA)
Family 9-f
Unbeaten in four starts as a juvenile, War Pass was one of the quickest 2-year-olds seen in years. Unfortunately, his 3-year-old season was brief and anticlimactic. After winning his opening race, he finished a shocking seventh and last in the Tampa Bay Derby (USA-G3) after getting bumped at the break and failing to get the early lead. He appeared to be coming back into top form when he ran a game second to Tale of Ekati in the 2008 Wood Memorial (USA-G1) but fractured a sesamoid shortly afterward and was officially retired a few months later. His stud career was likewise brief as he died as a 5-year-old, leaving two Northern Hemisphere and two Southern Hemisphere crops behind.
Race record
7 starts, 5 wins, 1 second, 0 thirds, US$1,583,400
2007:
2008:
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 2-year-old male (2007)
Assessments
Highweighted at 127 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 2007, 7 pounds above second-rated Dixie Chatter, Into Mischief and Pyro.
As an individual
A well-balanced, workmanlike dark bay or brown horse with a straight hind leg, War Pass stood 16 hands ½ inch at the withers. He was a front runner by preference. He was forced to the sidelines in the spring of his 3-year-old season after fracturing a sesamoid in his left foreleg, and while his connections initially had hopes of bringing him back in the fall, he was officially retired in September 2008.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, War Pass sired 129 winners (53.1%) and 10 stakes winners (4.1%) from 243 named foals.
Notable progeny
Java's War (USA)
Connections
War Pass was bred in Kentucky by Cherry Valley Farm. He was owned by by Robert LaPenta, who purchased the colt for US$180,000 from the 2006 Keeneland September yearling sale. Following the 2007 Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Lane's End Farm bought an interest in War Pass, who was trained by Nick Zito. War Pass entered stud in 2009 in Kentucky at Lane's End Farm and shuttled to Widden Stud in Australia for the 2009 and 2010 Southern Hemisphere breeding seasons. He died suddenly from unknown causes on December 24, 2010, one day after his return from his second Southern Hemisphere season.
Pedigree notes
War Pass is inbred 5x5x5x5 to five-time American champion sire Nasrullah. He is a half brother to 1996 Spinaway Stakes (USA-G1) winner Oath (by Known Fact), dam of Grade 3 winner Honest Man (by Unbridled's Song), and to Grade 2-placed Vision of Beauty (by Danzig), dam of Grade 3-placed listed stakes winner Sly Beauty (by Into Mischief).
Vue, the dam of War Pass, was stakes-placed on the track. She is a half sister to 1986 Louisiana Derby (USA-G3) winner Country Light (by Majestic Light) and to multiple stakes winner Packet (by Polish Navy), dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Great Intentions (by Cat Thief) and multiple stakes winner Sea Road (by Tale of the Cat) and second dam of 2012 Central Bank Ashland Stakes (USA-G1) winner Karlovy Vary. Vue is also a half sister to Berth (by Believe It), dam of stakes winner Rail (by Majestic Light) and second dam of 2015 Maker's 46 Mile Stakes (USA-G1) winner Jack Milton and Grade 3 winner Peace Preserver.
Vue and her siblings are out of Harbor Flag (by Hoist the Flag), whose dam Bayou Blue (by Bold Ruler) is a full sister to 1964 Santa Margarita Handicap winner Batteur, dam of 1977 Illinois Derby (USA-G3) winner Flag Officer (by Hoist the Flag) and second dam of 1980 Turf Classic Invitational Handicap (USA-G1) winner Anifa, and to Slew, dam of 1987 Flower Bowl Handicap (USA-G1) winner Slew's Exceller (by Exceller). She is also a half sister to Alluvial (by Buckpasser), dam of two-time American champion Slew o' Gold (by Seattle Slew) and 1979 Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) winner Coastal (by Majestic Prince) and second dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Aptitude and 1995 Hollywood Oaks (USA-G1) winner Sleep Easy. The next dam in War Pass's tail-female line is 1957 American champion 3-year-old filly Bayou (by Hill Prince), a full sister to 1970 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Levee and a half sister to 1968 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Delta (by Nasrullah).
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photo by Jessica Morgan, taken at Lane's End in 2008. Used by permission.
Last updated: October 14, 2023
Race record
7 starts, 5 wins, 1 second, 0 thirds, US$1,583,400
2007:
- Won Champagne Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Belmont)
- Won Breeders' Cup Juvenile Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Monmouth)
2008:
- 2nd Wood Memorial Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Aqueduct)
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 2-year-old male (2007)
Assessments
Highweighted at 127 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 2007, 7 pounds above second-rated Dixie Chatter, Into Mischief and Pyro.
As an individual
A well-balanced, workmanlike dark bay or brown horse with a straight hind leg, War Pass stood 16 hands ½ inch at the withers. He was a front runner by preference. He was forced to the sidelines in the spring of his 3-year-old season after fracturing a sesamoid in his left foreleg, and while his connections initially had hopes of bringing him back in the fall, he was officially retired in September 2008.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, War Pass sired 129 winners (53.1%) and 10 stakes winners (4.1%) from 243 named foals.
Notable progeny
Java's War (USA)
Connections
War Pass was bred in Kentucky by Cherry Valley Farm. He was owned by by Robert LaPenta, who purchased the colt for US$180,000 from the 2006 Keeneland September yearling sale. Following the 2007 Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Lane's End Farm bought an interest in War Pass, who was trained by Nick Zito. War Pass entered stud in 2009 in Kentucky at Lane's End Farm and shuttled to Widden Stud in Australia for the 2009 and 2010 Southern Hemisphere breeding seasons. He died suddenly from unknown causes on December 24, 2010, one day after his return from his second Southern Hemisphere season.
Pedigree notes
War Pass is inbred 5x5x5x5 to five-time American champion sire Nasrullah. He is a half brother to 1996 Spinaway Stakes (USA-G1) winner Oath (by Known Fact), dam of Grade 3 winner Honest Man (by Unbridled's Song), and to Grade 2-placed Vision of Beauty (by Danzig), dam of Grade 3-placed listed stakes winner Sly Beauty (by Into Mischief).
Vue, the dam of War Pass, was stakes-placed on the track. She is a half sister to 1986 Louisiana Derby (USA-G3) winner Country Light (by Majestic Light) and to multiple stakes winner Packet (by Polish Navy), dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Great Intentions (by Cat Thief) and multiple stakes winner Sea Road (by Tale of the Cat) and second dam of 2012 Central Bank Ashland Stakes (USA-G1) winner Karlovy Vary. Vue is also a half sister to Berth (by Believe It), dam of stakes winner Rail (by Majestic Light) and second dam of 2015 Maker's 46 Mile Stakes (USA-G1) winner Jack Milton and Grade 3 winner Peace Preserver.
Vue and her siblings are out of Harbor Flag (by Hoist the Flag), whose dam Bayou Blue (by Bold Ruler) is a full sister to 1964 Santa Margarita Handicap winner Batteur, dam of 1977 Illinois Derby (USA-G3) winner Flag Officer (by Hoist the Flag) and second dam of 1980 Turf Classic Invitational Handicap (USA-G1) winner Anifa, and to Slew, dam of 1987 Flower Bowl Handicap (USA-G1) winner Slew's Exceller (by Exceller). She is also a half sister to Alluvial (by Buckpasser), dam of two-time American champion Slew o' Gold (by Seattle Slew) and 1979 Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) winner Coastal (by Majestic Prince) and second dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Aptitude and 1995 Hollywood Oaks (USA-G1) winner Sleep Easy. The next dam in War Pass's tail-female line is 1957 American champion 3-year-old filly Bayou (by Hill Prince), a full sister to 1970 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Levee and a half sister to 1968 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Delta (by Nasrullah).
Fun facts
- War Pass's Beyer Speed Figure of 113 for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile was the fastest recorded for that race up to that time.
- War Pass's 7-pound margin of superiority over his next-best rivals on the Experimental Free Handicap tied the record set by Native Dancer as a juvenile of 1952.
Photo credit
Photo by Jessica Morgan, taken at Lane's End in 2008. Used by permission.
Last updated: October 14, 2023