Kentucky Derby favorite Forte scratched in stunning turn of events

Dan Wolken

Forte, who was slated to be the favorite for the Kentucky Derby, was scratched on the morning of the race.

The decision was made by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission after Forte went through his routine gallop Saturday morning and a veterinary inspection.

Speculation about Forte’s status began to bubble up after video hit social media Friday that seemed to show the horse taking an awkward step during his Thursday morning gallop. Trainer Todd Pletcher brushed off the concern initially, but Saturday told a different story.

After Forte was examined, owner Mike Repole huddled with Pletcher and had a lengthy conversation with a Kentucky Horse Racing Commission veterinarian. Forte was then taken back to the racetrack, suggesting that Repole wanted to exhaust every option before deciding to scratch the horse.

Repole said Saturday morning that he was “shocked, sad and devastated” after the state vet scratched Forte because he “seemed off a tick.” The owner said Forte had a bruise earlier in the week but that multiple vets had taken a look and said the horse was fine. Repole said Kentucky Horse Racing Commission veterinarians had concerns about a bruised right front foot.

Repole, a self-made billionaire who co-founded the company that made Vitaminwater, had to scratch Derby favorite Uncle Mo the day before the 2011 race due to an illness.

Forte’s defection adds to a strange and tragic week at Churchill Downs that began with the death of Wild On Ice, who was euthanized after a training injury. Two other horses were euthanized after suffering on-track injuries.

Two more horses, both from the barn of trainer Saffie Joseph, collapsed and died on the track after races during the week. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission scratched all of Joseph’s subsequent entries, including Derby contender Lord Miles. Churchill suspended the trainer until more information was gleaned about the nature of the deaths.

Forte’s defection adds to a strange and tragic week at Churchill Downs that began with the death of Wild On Ice, who was euthanized after a training injury. Two other horses were euthanized after suffering on-track injuries.

Two more horses, both from the barn of trainer Saffie Joseph, collapsed and died on the track after races during the week. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission scratched all of Joseph’s subsequent entries, including Derby contender Lord Miles. Churchill suspended the trainer until more information was gleaned about the nature of the deaths.

On Thursday morning, Derby contender Verifying dumped his exercise rider and was loose on the track for a moment but was deemed to be fit to run.

Then, Santa Anita Derby winner Practical Move was scratched after spiking a temperature after his Thursday workout. Skinner and Continuar were also scratched.

The defection of Forte left 18 horses remaining.

Gabriela Szymanowska

Mage won the Kentucky Derby, surging late to beat out Two Phil's at Churchill Downs.

He won with a time of 2:01 with veteran jockey Javier Castellano and trainer Gustavo Delgado, who are both Venezuelan.

"Never give up, always try hard, do the right thing," Castellano said of winning his first Kentucky Derby.

Mage came from behind as Kingsbarns took an early lead and Two Phil's was winning midway through the race.

"It’s a little horse, but a big heart," Castellano said.

Delgado reflected on his journey after participating in two previous Kentucky Derbies and getting his first win.

"When I came to the United States, my first dream is, ‘Go to Kentucky Derby. Go to the Derby,’" he said. "When I ran two times, you remember, those horses very bad. But this time, I sure that the horse very, very good."

Mage is owned by a group of 382 people, headed by Cincinnati businessman Chase Chamberlin. He dedicated the race to his friend and fellow shareholder who died from breast cancer two weeks ago at the age of 38.

“The dream is alive. This is what horse racing’s all about," he said. "It’s the only animal in the world that could take a million people for a ride all along or in our case, 382.”

This was the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby, but this year's event was marred by the deaths of seven horses in the lead-up to the race.

Hours before the Derby, favorite Forte was scratched, becoming the fifth horse scratched from the race. That opened the door for the other contenders with the field down to 18 horses.

It's been a tumultuous week at Churchill Downs. Two of the horses who died had the same trainer, Saffie Joseph Jr. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and the Board of Stewards suspended Joseph indefinitely and scratched his Derby horse, Lord Miles, in the wake of the deaths.

The sixth horse to die this week, Chloe's Dream, was euthanized Saturday after an injury in Race 2, and Freezing Point died after the eighth race of the day. He was euthanized following an ankle injury.

The second leg of the Triple Crown is the Preakness Stakes, ran on May 20 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. The last horse to win the Preakness after a Derby victory was Justify in 2018, who went on to take the Belmont Stakes and become the 13th Triple Crown winner.