Forte

Forte began his racing career in a May 27, 2022, maiden race at Belmont Park where he was sent off as the prohibitive 1-5 favorite for trainer Todd Pletcher, and he promptly delivered a 7 3/4-length win under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. The big debut victory propelled Forte into stakes company for his second start in the Grade 3 Sanford Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on July 16, but despite being sent off as the 7-5 favorite in a field of 12, Forte settled for fourth, beaten 5 3/4 lengths.

Forte returned for a second stakes try on closing day of the Saratoga meet in the Grade 1 $300,000 Hopeful Stakes, the signature 2-year-old race of the Saratoga meet. After a heavy rainstorm before post time turned the track sloppy, Forte came from off the pace and caught front-running, even-money favorite Gulfport to come home a decisive winner.  With Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard, ran the seven furlongs in 1:22.58 and paid $15.80 to win as the fourth choice in the wagering in a field of six.

Making his next start at Keeneland Oct. 8 in the $600,000 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity, Forte made a powerful move on the final turn to challenge for the lead under Irad Ortiz Jr. in early stretch. Leader Loggins proved a formidable for however as the duo dueled stride for stride through the stretch with Forte stretching his head out in the closing strides to prevail and earn his second Grade 1 win. Forte earned an expenses-paid berth to the Nov. 4 FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile with the victory, and also tallied 10 qualifying points toward gaining a spot in the 2023 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve.

Forte's next start came in the Grade 1 $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Keeneland on Friday, Nov. 4. Sent off as the 5-1 second wagering choice in a field of 10 behind heavily favored Cave Rock, Forte comfortably stalked a live pace and moved up to challenge Cave Rock just as that one had shaken clear on the lead turning for home. Forte continued to rally through the stretch, passing Cave Rock and drawing off to a 1 1/2-length victory on the wire. Forte finished the 1 1/16-mile Juvenile in a time of 1:43.06 to earn the fourth victory in five starts in his 2-year-old campaign, including a trip of Grade 1 victories.

Forte earned himself some time off between races and was freshened for the start of his 3-year-old campaign. His road to the Kentucky Derby officially resumed on March 4, 2023 in the first start of his 3-year-old season in the Grade 2 $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park in the prep race that trainer Todd Pletcher had planned circled on his calendar months prior. Forte did not disappoint. Sent off as the heavy favorite in a field of nine, Forte patiently stalked the pace, waited behind a wall of three front runners around the turn, then was swung out wide by jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. and powered past the leaders and coasted home to an impressive 4 1/2-length win in a time of 1:43.12 for the 1 1/16 miles. For the victory in the Fountain of Youth, Forte earned 50 points  in the Road to the Kentucky Derby, giving him a total of 90 points to date which is more than enough to lock-up a spot in the starting gate for the 2023 run for the roses.

Forte made his final pre-Derby prep race tune-up in the Grade 1 $1 million Florida Derby, where he was sent off as the .30-1 favorite in a field of 12 3-year-olds. After drawing the disadvantageous post 11 at the 1 1/8-mile distance on the Gulfstream Park main track, jockey Irad Ortiz was forced to sit further back in the field than usual in the early running to avoid getting swept out wide on the first turn. He sat ninth down the backstretch and was twice angled out wide on the turn when passing horses and then again in the stretch when trying to gain on the leaders still five lengths behind at the quarter pole. In the final furlong, Forte kicked it into high gear and was able to surge past the leaders on his way to a length victory in a time of 1:48.51.

As the Florida Derby winner and defending 2-year-old champion, Forte headed to Louisville for the Kentucky Derby as the morning-line favorite for the run for the roses. Unfortunately, it was not meant to be. Forte was scratched before the Kentucky Derby with a bruise on his foot near his hoof. The scratch put him on the veterinarian's list and procedurally made him ineligible to race in the Preakness Stakes, as well.

Forte finally got his chance to participate in the 2023 Triple Crown series when he was entered in the 2023 running of the Belmont Stakes on June 10, and he was sent off as the 2-1 favorite in the field of nine. Forte raced near the back of the pack throughout the race and was still near the back when he kicked it into gear on the inside in the stretch run. His late rally was strong but came up short in second place.

Making his first start after the Belmont Stakes, Forte needed every step of the stretch to defeat pacesetter Saudi Crown to win the $500,000, Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes presented by DK Horse July 29 at Saratoga Race Course for his third win in four starts in 2023.

Forte's next start came in the $1.25 million Grade 1 Travers Stakes on Aug. 26 at Saratoga. Forte was sent off as the 1.75-1 favorite in a seven-horse field in the Travers that included all three of the winners of the Kentucky Derby (Mage), Preakness (National Treasure), and Belmont Stakes (Arcangelo), but failed to fire and finished a distant fourth.

Forte is trained by Todd Pletcher for owner Michael Repole and St. Elias Stable. He was bred in Kentucky by the sire Violence out of the mare Queen Carolina by Blame.