Truck pulls Big upset at Tampa; War Pass last

Perhaps War Pass (Cherokee Run) should have been told to "Beware the Ides of March," like Julius Caesar. On that fateful date, in Saturday's $300,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G3) , the hitherto unbeaten champion was uncharacteristically flat-footed early, never held the lead, and retreated to finish a baffling last, more than 24 lengths adrift of Eric Fein's BIG TRUCK (Hook and Ladder). For those who took their eyes off the struggling War Pass in the stretch, Big Truck collared a game Atoned (Repent) and ground out a narrow victory in a final time of 1:44 1/5 on the fast track.

When the gate sprang open, War Pass was bumped from both sides by Make Me Zach (First Tour) and Gentleman James (Yankee Gentleman), and the prohibitive 1-20 favorite was pinched back. Gentleman James capitalized on the situation to take control, setting splits of :23 3/5 and :47 2/5. Make Me Zach pressed the pace through the first half-mile, then wrested the lead for himself through six furlongs in 1:11 2/5. Meanwhile, War Pass had been trying to find some sort of rhythm as a close stalker on the outside. The champion was never able to impose his presence from that position, and as the field approached the far turn, it was clear that he was headed to a shocking defeat.

In contrast, Atoned was traveling beautifully on the outside, executing a sweeping move to strike the front in the stretch. Big Truck, however, was just shifting into high gear from off the pace with Eibar Coa, and the Barclay Tagg pupil wore down Atoned by a neck late. By posting his biggest career stakes victory, Big Truck bolstered his credentials as a Kentucky Derby (G1) aspirant.

"I told (Coa) to ride for second," Tagg said. ""I told him if something happens to War Pass, if you ride for second, he'll win the race. I mean, you just never know. Theoretically, you're not going to beat War Pass going a mile and a sixteenth here. There was no way to beat War Pass unless he folded for some reason.

"We thought he was a little less mature than some of our other horses are," Tagg continued. "It just took him a little while."

Atoned, who had not raced since his scarily troubled runner-up effort in the Remsen S. (G2), ran a highly encouraging race in his sophomore debut. He drew 4 1/2 lengths clear of Dynamic Wayne (Eltish) in a non-threatening third. It was another 2 1/4 lengths back to Make Me Zach, followed by Cigar Man (Drewman), whose jockey, Ronald Allen Jr., claimed foul against Make Me Zach for interference. The stewards disallowed the claim, and the result stood. There was another 14 3/4-length gap back to Gentleman James, with War Pass last after shortening stride noticeably in the stretch.

The connections of War Pass were at a loss to account for his performance.

"It seemed like he just didn't go today like he always has," jockey Cornelio Velasquez said. "He broke OK and didn't stumble, and at the half-mile wanted to go to the lead, but he just couldn't go. Today he just didn't try like he has in the past. I don't know. He just stayed back and couldn't take the lead."

"You saw what happened (at the start)," trainer Nick Zito said, "but he got moving, and I thought he was in a good position going down the back, but when (Velasquez) asked him, nothing happened. I don't know what happened. I just don't know."

"He wasn't himself today," owner Robert LaPenta said. "As soon as the gate opened, he didn't jump out like he normally does. And the jockey said when the four (Make Me Zach) came up right against him (at the break), it bothered him. We wanted him to come out of the gate and take the lead around the first turn, but he just didn't break well.

"He's had some fever this week, and we thought he'd be OK, but obviously it wasn't his day," LaPenta revealed. "Hopefully, he's OK. Nick is with him now, and we'll find out a little more later."

Sent off as the 7-1 second choice, Big Truck paid $16.40, $5.80 and $25.20. Atoned returned $6.60 and $27.80 as the 9-1 third choice, and the 49-1 Dynamic Wayne yielded a healthy $76.40 to show. The exotics totaled $64.80 (exacta), $439.20 (trifecta) and $1,828.20 (6-7-5-4 superfecta).

Big Truck more than doubled his bankroll to $336,880 from his 7-3-1-1 line. The New York-bred bay began his career in state-bred company, taking the Bertram F. Bongard S. in his second outing and finishing a close third in the Sleepy Hollow S. A troubled fourth in the Remsen, Big Truck was never in the hunt when fifth in the Hutcheson S. (G2) in his three-year-old bow. Next time out, he was a rallying runner-up in the Sam F. Davis S. at this track and trip, beaten a half-length by Fierce Wind (Dixie Union).

Bred by A. Lakin and Sons, Big Truck is out of the winning Go for Gin mare Just a Ginny. He is a half-brother to the stakes-placed Logic Way (Freud), a juvenile filly named Be a Ginny (Freud) and an unnamed yearling filly by Unforgettable Max.

Immediate plans for Big Truck have yet to be determined, but Fein is hoping to see his colors beneath the Twin Spires.

"I certainly have Derby fever, but we have to make a decision for what's best for the horse," Fein said. "We're hoping the truck stops in Louisville."