LaPenta, Zito have good day

A successful return to the races for War Pass, the champion 2-year-old of 2007, was not the only highlight Sunday in Florida for owner Robert LaPenta and trainer Nick Zito.

About 30 minutes before War Pass, the 1-20 favorite, did the expected and toyed with four outclassed rivals in a $60,000 allowance, Cool Coal Man, his stablemate, became a graded stakes winner with a 7-1 upset in the $350,000 Fountain Of Youth at Gulfstream Park.

A $200,000 yearling purchase by Zito for LaPenta at Keeneland in 2006, Cool Coal Man made a quick move under new jockey Kent Desormeaux to sweep to the lead entering the stretch, then held off Elysium Fields to win by half a length.

Last in his only previous appearance in a graded race in the Kentucky Jockey Club on Nov. 24 at Churchill Downs, Cool Coal Man won for the fourth time in seven starts. The final time for the 1 1/8 miles was 1:51.85, and Zito indicated Cool Coal Man could return in the $1-million Florida Derby on March 29.

Prepping for the $300,000 Tampa Bay Derby on March 15 at Tampa Bay Downs, War Pass quickly assumed command in his first start since completing a perfect season with an easy victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile four months ago.

In what was basically a paid workout, War Pass, a son of Cherokee Run, ran the mile in 1:36.38 and won by 7 1/2 lengths. He is now five for five, with wins by a combined 22 lengths.

“You still have anxiety no matter how you look at it,” said Zito, who called War Pass “unbelievable.”

“It will be tougher three weeks from now, but he is a special horse,” Zito said.

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Tiz Elemental, a 4-1 shot returning from a lengthy layoff, rallied from well off the pace over a track that favored the style to win the $109,300 Honest Lady Stakes at Santa Anita. Idle since winning the Melair on April 29 at Hollywood Park, Tiz Elemental, a 4-year-old Cee’s Tizzy filly, won by three-quarters of a length over 5-2 favorite Glorified and six others.

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bob.mieszerski@latimes.com