Kentucky Derby Horse Profile: Forte
Apr 24, 2023
Repole
Stable and St. Elias Stable’s
Forte led the 2023
Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series going into winter after victories in the $600,000 Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland on
Oct. 8 and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at the same track Nov. 4. In doing so he also earned the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Two-Year-Old Male.
Forte
was bred in Kentucky by South Gate Farm and passed through the
auction ring on a pair of occasions. The classy youngster was an $80,000
weanling purchase in 2020 at Keeneland November, prior to bringing the gavel
down at $110,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
He
is the first stakes winner produced from the four-time black-type winning Blame
mare Queen Caroline. This is the same female family that is responsible for
juvenile champions Folklore and Essential Quality.
Trained
by Todd Pletcher,
Forte commenced his career at Belmont Park on May 27 and
drove home a decisive, 7 3/4-length winner while going postward at 1-5
odds in a
five-furlong maiden special weight dash. Facing stakes foes in the Sanford S.
(G3) at Saratoga in his second assignment, the colt finished an even fourth
following a trady beginning.
He preceded his Breeders’ Futurity triumph with a
three-length tally in the Hopeful S. (G1) at The Spa on Sept. 5, and then went on run down favorite Cave Creek in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
Forte
has given the impression of a prospect who will be able to
stretch out in distance more with further development.
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