War Pass to face six in Tampa Bay Derby

Undefeated champion WAR PASS (Cherokee Run), who registered a facile allowance score at Gulfstream Park in his three-year-old debut, will bid for his sixth straight victory in Saturday's $300,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G3). Six rivals have signed up to face him in the 1 1/16-mile event, including the Barclay Tagg-trained BIG TRUCK (Hook and Ladder) and ATONED (Repent) from the Todd Pletcher barn.

War Pass has captured all five of his races in front-running style for Hall of Famer Nick Zito. A sharp winner of the Champagne S. (G1) in his third career start, the dark bay clinched the divisional championship with a 4 3/4-length demolition job in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1).

Zito then crafted a strategy to prepare War Pass for the Kentucky Derby (G1), and he has not deviated from it. The first step, a one-mile allowance at Gulfstream on February 24, went exactly according to plan, as War Pass drubbed a field of four overmatched opponents by 7 1/2 lengths. The next step, the Tampa Bay Derby, will serve as a prep for the April 5 Wood Memorial (G1) at Aqueduct.

On Saturday, War Pass will tote the top weight of 122 pounds, spotting six pounds to each of his challengers. Regular rider Cornelio Velasquez will guide the speedy colt from post 3.

Big Truck is coming off a strong runner-up effort in the February 16 Sam F. Davis S. at this track and trip. After rallying in deep stretch, he fell short by a half-length to Zito's Fierce Wind (Dixie Union). Tagg has always been high on Big Truck, who was a decisive winner of the Bertram F. Bongard S. as a juvenile. The bay posted a bullet move on Sunday, blitzing five furlongs in :59 3/5 at Gulfstream, and will try to spring an upset beneath Eibar Coa.

Atoned has not raced since his valiant second in the November 24 Remsen S. (G2) at Aqueduct. Despite clipping heels and nearly going down on the first turn, he recovered well enough to get back into position, opened up by three lengths in midstretch, and was just collared late by the well-regarded Court Vision (Gulch). The ultra-consistent Atoned had already distinguished himself in stakes company, rolling to a three-length tally in the Continental Mile S. and recording runner-up finishes in the Whirling Ash S. and Dover S. prior to his Remsen adventure. John Velazquez figures to carve out a stalking trip aboard the dark bay, who has drawn widest of all in post 7.

CIGAR MAN (Drewman), who was stakes-placed as a juvenile, will lead the post parade beneath Ronald Allen Jr. Next will come Pasco S. runner-up GENTLEMAN JAMES (Yankee Gentleman), David Amiss; War Pass; last-out allowance winner MAKE ME ZACH (First Tour), Jose Rivera II; Sam F. Davis fourth DYNAMIC WAYNE (Eltish), Pablo Morales; Big Truck; and Atoned.