Formidable Man

Formidable Man won his career debut in a Del Mar 2-year-old maiden race on Sept. 10. 2023. He finished sixth in the Grade 3 Zuma Beach Stakes in his only other start as a juvenile.

Formidable Man reached the winner's circle again as a 3-year-old with a victory in an allowance optional claiming race at Santa Anita on March 29, 2024. He then shipped to Churchill Downs and finished second in the Grade 2 American Turf Stakes on May 4, and later returned to southern California to win the Caesar's Sportsbook Oceanside Stakes at one mile on the grass on opening day of the Del Mar summer meet on July 20.

Formidable Man became a Graded stakes winner for the first time when he won the Grade 2 $300,000 Caesar's Sportsbook Del Mar Derby on Sept. 1, when he topped a six-horse field by a half a length going 1 1/8 miles on the turf.

Formidable Man's next outing came in the Grade 1 $300,000 Hollywood Derby on Nov. 30 at Del Mar and Formidable Man showed up with yet another winning effort. Sent off as the 5-1 fourth choice on the tote board in a field of 11 going 1 1/8 miles on the turf, Formidable Man stalked the pace up close and took charge in the stretch to get up by three-quarters of a length to his third straight win and the first Grade 1 win of his career.

Formidable Man added another Grade 1 win when he took the Grade 1, $300,000 Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes going one mile on the turf at Santa Anita on March 1, 2025. The colt rallied to top a seven-horse field by a winning margin of a half a length under jockey Umberto Rispoli.

Following the Kilroe, Formidable Man ran a good fourth in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile Stakes at Santa Anita in May and then returned to Del Mar, where he sported a perfect 4-for-4 record. He was sent off as the odds-on favorite in the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes July 27 and validated that backing with a stretch-running victory under Rispoli to improve his record at Del Mar to 5-for-5.

Formidable Man put his undefeated record at Del Mar on the line again in his next race and remained perfect with a victory in the Grade 2 $300,000 Del Mar Mile on Aug. 30. Sent off as the 7-5 favorite atop a six-horse field in the Del Mar Mile, Formidable Man stalked the pace comfortably near the rear of the tightly packed field, made up ground, drew even with the leaders in mid-stretch, and pulled clear in the end to win by 1 1/2 lengths.

Formidable Man is trained by Michael McCarthy. He was bred in Kentucky by the sire City of Light out of the mare Fanticola by Silent Name.