Shortly after trainer Todd Pletcher indicated Forte was likely for the Preakness, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission appeared to spike that idea.
Forte, scratched from the Kentucky Derby by the state vet because of a foot bruise, looks to be on track for the Preakness, his trainer said.
Facing adversity and an inspired foe in Mage, Forte nevertheless found what he needed to win the Florida Derby and cement his divisional lead.
Forte, last year’s champion two-year-old, looks to take control of his generation in a definitive way with a win in today’s Florida Derby.
Kingsbarns posted a front-running score in the Louisiana Derby to give trainer Todd Pletcher four horses with sufficient points to reach the Kentucky Derby.
Tapit Trice, the 1-2 favorite, rallied from the rear to win the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby and earn 50 points on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard.
Two-year-old champion Forte made his return to action an impressive one as he cruised in the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
The Todd Pletcher-trained Litigate won the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs to earn 20 points on the Kentucky Derby trail.
The Maryland Racing Commission voted to disqualify Don’t Call Me Mary, trained by Todd Pletcher, from a November 2021 race at Laurel for an Amicar positive.
Friday’s Charles Town Classic includes horses trained by Hall of Famers Todd Pletcher, D. Wayne Lukas, and Bill Mott, who sends out the defending champ.