The Blood-Horse: 03/01/2008 issue

Photo: BLOOD-HORSE

Training Trio: Two-year-olds get an on-track lesson at a training center in Florida. This week's issue of The Blood-Horse features a special report on breaking and training around the world.

Photo: LOUISE E. REINAGEL

If there was any rust from his nearly four-month layoff, Robert LaPenta’s War Pass hid it well, as the juvenile champion sparkled in his 3-year-old debut, winning by 7 ½ length in a one-mile allowance tune-up Feb. 24 at Gulfstream Park.

Photo: COGLIANESE PHOTOS

War Pass, going off at odds of 1-20, never trailed. Breaking from post five, the Cherokee Run colt shot to the lead under Cornelio Velasquez and made mincemeat out of his four overmatched rivals.

Photo: COGLIANESE PHOTOS

He is now unbeaten – and virtually unchallenged – in five lifetime starts. Step 1 along his Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) trail is now complete.

Photo: ADAM COGLIANESE

Cool Coal Man holds off Elysium Fields in the Fountain of Youth (gr.II) Feb. 24 at Gulfstream Park.

Photo: ADAM COGLIANESE

Cool Coal Man, who like War Pass is owned by Robert LaPenta, captured his first graded stakes under Kent Desormeaux.

Photo: COGLIANESE PHOTOS

Einstein, right, holds off Dancing Forever to take the Gulfstream Park Turf.

Photo: ADAM COGLIANESE

Bred in Brazil by Fazenda Mondesir out of the Ghadeer mare Gay Charm, Einstein now has seven wins and one show from sixteen starts. His earnings total $714,782. 

Photo: COGLIANESE PHOTOS

Spring House could be headed for Dubai next month after his handy 2 1/4-length victory in the $150,000 San Luis Obispo Handicap (gr. IIT) on a slightly soft Santa Anita turf course Feb. 23.

Photo: BENOIT PHOTO

Never far off the leaders in the 1 1/2-mile marathon, Spring House surged to the lead mid-stretch for jockey Garrett Gomez and won with relative ease.

Photo: BENOIT PHOTO

Tiz Elemental, a promising filly whose 3-year-old campaign ended abruptly last spring, returned in style with a late-running victory in the $109,300 Honest Lady Stakes on the Santa Anita main track Feb. 24.

Photo: BENOIT PHOTO

Tiz Elemental, a 4-year-old filly by Cee's Tizzy—Blending Element (by Great Commotion), earned her fourth win in six lifetime starts for trainer Carla Gaines.

Photo: BENOIT PHOTO