Kentucky Derby Contender for War Pass
Widden Stud’s ill-fated shuttle sire War Pass (USA) had just two crops of foals in Australia before his premature death in Kentucky and while his oldest progeny here are two year-olds, in the US they have just turned three and include exciting colt Revolutionary, who created a huge impression when winning the Group III Withers Stakes at Aqueduct on the weekend.
The Todd Pletcher trained colt came from a seemingly impossible position to snatch a neck win in the 1 and 1/16th mile feature, his second win from five starts.
A $235,000 purchase from the OBS March 2YO Sale, Revolutionary runs for WinStar Farm.
“Obviously, things didn’t go well out of the gate, but he hung in there and Javier Castellano (winning rider) did a nice job of being patient,” said WinStar’s Elliott Walden.
“Finally, when he got some room, he came running. When you’re looking at a race like the Derby, potentially down the road, to get that kind of experience, it’s invaluable.
“It was nice to see him come running like that. He couldn’t blow out a match in the winner’s circle. We’ll talk with Todd [Pletcher] and we’ll see. I’d be inclined to take him to Florida and regroup until that last round of preps. Probably just one more race [before the Derby].”
Revolutionary is bred to be a superstar as the first stakes-winner from Group I winner Runup the Colors, a three-quarter sister to US Horse of the Year Mineshaft and multiple Group I winner Tomisue’s Delight.
With a pedigree like this it’s no wonder WinStar Farm snapped him up and will be hoping it’s onwards and upwards to the Kentucky Derby.
Revolutionary becomes the third stakes-winner for War Pass, who has sired two winners to date in Australia with his last Southern Hemisphere bred yearlings being offered at the sales this year.