A will to win
Court Vision simply willed his way to victory, bulling and bumping his way through horses in deep stretch despite a slow pace that figured to compromise his late surge. Not many young horses will do that, especially at 9 furlongs. Bill Mott’s Majestic Warrior gets all the publicity for his upside. But it’s Court Vision that’s already a proven commodity.

Denis of Cork’s maiden win had to be seen to be believed, and maybe not even then (6^th race, CD, Nov. 24). The majority of juvenile debut winners speed-pop their rivals right to the finish. Not Denis.

At the first call of the 7-furlong sprint, Denis of Cork had only one of 11 rivals beaten. At the second call. It was three. Then he began a five-wide run rounding the famed Churchill far turn and was a length behind the leader approaching midstretch.

Denis of Cork finished off the huge rally to finish 3/4s of a length to the good in 1:22 2/5. Calvin Borel rode the colt for trainer David Carroll. Interesting to note that Carl Nafzger had a starter in the race, too.

Denis of Cork earned an Equiform figure of 72.25, a fast — but not too fast — building block. Viewing the effort in context is more revealing. Along the way to his final figure was a 4-furlong pace figure of 71 and a 2-furlong figure of 63. His internal 6-furlong figure was 69. Meaning, the farther he went, the faster he went. Stabled at Fair Grounds, he owns a DI of 1.80.

Zito’s War Pass is scheduled to make his season’s debut in late February at Gulfstream. No plans have been announced for Court Vision, also stabled in Florida, or for Denis of Cork.

But the road begins tomorrow. Aqueduct will offer the Count Fleet at a mile and 70 yards, featuring the undefeated, well managed Giant Moon, leaving from the outside in a field a seven with a short run into the first turn.

Zito, meanwhile, will run two in Gulfstream’s G2 Hutcheson at seven furlongs: Cool Coal Man, strangled into submission in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes last out, and Coal Play, second in Calder’s What A Pleasure Stakes. Both are owned by Robert LaPenta. Big Truck, Grand Minstrel and Halo Najib are serious contenders in a very competitive renewal.

So let the games — and the quotes — begin.

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