Kentucky Derby (G1) favorite Forte has been scratched from the May 6 race at Churchill Downs. The scratch comes after regulatory veterinarian concerns related to a mending foot bruise in his right front leg, according to co-owner Mike Repole.
The Todd Pletcher trainee, last year's champion 2-year-old, had been the favorite at 4-1 odds in early wagering that opened May 5. Betting refunds will be issued for eligible wagers.
With his absence, Angel of Empire and Tapit Trice are likely to vie for post-time favoritism. Pletcher trains Tapit Trice and fellow Kentucky Derby starter Kingsbarns .
Repole, whose Repole Stables owns Forte along with St. Elias Stables, said that Forte, a 3-year-old son of Violence , galloped "great" Saturday morning, but when he came off the track, state regulatory vets said the colt was "off a tick."
"You know, it's subjective and it was not, it was not like an obvious (issue). I don't know much about this, but he seemed fine to me," Repole said.
According to Repole, Pletcher and his staff and private veterinarians attending to the colt felt he was fine to run.
Repole and Pletcher met Saturday morning with Dr. Nick Smith, chief veterinarian for the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. Smith examined the colt.
He added that Forte's team did not have the best week at Churchill Downs, but that Pletcher wanted to make sure that "everything was right." That included giving Forte a new shoe on his right front foot. Repole said Forte has been dealing with a foot bruise since May 3. He trained in a modified shoe in the days leading up to the Derby.
"I think they were overly cautious but I have to understand and respect the fact that they're overly cautious. I just would like to be more consistent with the process—how we do things in Kentucky versus, the different rules and regulations and different medications and different vets."
He added, "I like that we're taking extra precaution, I'm all for it. (I) hurt for Todd and his staff (and) my racing stable team that are gonna be a lot more devastated than me today."
Amid tight veterinary scrutiny, Forte is the fifth horse scratched from the race, joining Skinner, Practical Move, Lord Miles and Continuar. A field of 18 remains.
Repole suggested Forte could potentially run May 20 at Pimlico Race Course in the Preakness Stakes (G1), the second jewel of the Triple Crown.
The horse has not missed training. Sensitivity to the foot bruise would be considered minor, Repole said.
"If we want to run in the Preakness, we can run in the Preakness. … You're not going to see this horse be retired, this horse is going to run again and it could be in two weeks."
The hardest adversity often leads to the greatest moments of your life. Keep fighting, keep going, never surrender, never give up, never stop, keep grinding. The toughest situations build the strongest people & horses in the end.
— Repole Stable (@RepoleStable) May 6, 2023
I’m so sorry Forte 😢💙🧡🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/jl9pmJclVD
Forte becomes the second pre-race Kentucky Derby scratch of a favorite for Repole, whose stable star Uncle Mo was withdrawn from the 2011 Derby the day before the race because of subpar health. He was dealing with a gastrointestinal infection and was later diagnosed with a rare liver disease. Uncle Mo recovered, resumed racing in the summer and later become a successful sire.
Repole expressed heartache for his older family and partners who will now miss having a starter in the Derby, the most legendary race in North America.
"This is where you separate the greatest horses of all time, and he's won six out of seven and to have him in the barn, in a race like this, it's devastating to me," Repole said.
After the scratch of Forte, it was announced that Irad Ortiz Jr., who was to ride the morning-line favorite, would now pick up the mount on Cyclone Mischief, who drew into the race from the also-eligible list.
