2 year old champion Forte was awarded a 3-1 bias for the 149th run of the $3 million Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 6 at Churchill Downs. The Repole Stables runner, who has won six of his seven career starts, went on a five-win streak in the 1 1/4 mile Run for the Roses. Trained by Todd Pletcher, son of Violence most recently won the Florida Derby (G1) April 1 at Gulfstream Park.
Post Positions for the Kentucky Derby pic.twitter.com/leSFQnnPsE
– Kentucky Horse Racing (@KentuckyDerby) May 1, 2023
Past column 15, the Forte will be driven by regular racer Irad Ortiz Jr. in the game of Derby. The win will be the third win in the classic match for Pletcher after the previous win Super savings 2010 and Always dreaming in 2017. Pletcher will also be the winner of the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) Tapit Trice (track 5), second pick on the odds table with a score of 5-1 and hero Louisiana Derby (G2) undefeated Kingsbarns (post 6, odds 12-1).
Third pick 8-1 is the winner of the Arkansas Derby (G1) angel of the empire (Lesson 14), is one of four entries by trainer Brad Cox. His other contenders are Verification in progress (card 2, odds 15-1), impressions (card odds 1, 30-1) and expected speed Jace’s Road (post 12, odds 15-1).
The duo trained in Japan sotogake skin (odds 10-1) and continue (odds 50-1) drawn the outside posts of 17 and 20 respectively.
This story will be updated.
