Former champion 2-year-old War Pass dies
December 27, 2010LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - Champagne Stakes winner and 2007 2-year-old champion War Pass died on Friday at Lane's End Farm shortly after returning from Australia.
Farm officials say the 5-year-old horse appeared to be fine when he was released out in his paddock after returning from Widden Stud in Australia. He was found dead several hours later.
A preliminary necropsy proved inconclusive.
Raced by Robert LaPenta and trained by Nick Zito, War Pass won five of seven lifetime starts and earned $1,583,400. His career was cut short by a minor fracture in left foreleg. Although he made a full recovery, veterinarians said it was too dangerous for him to race again.
Lane's End owner Will Farish said the farm was saddened by the loss.