Forte scratched from the Kentucky Derby
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Forte, the favorite for Saturday’s 149th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, was scratched out of the race by Kentucky state veterinarians Saturday morning due to a minor bruise in his right front foot.
Forte had been dealing with a bruise since mid-week, but did not miss a day of training. On Friday, Forte had galloped with a three-quarter shoe, to, as trainer Todd Pletcher said, relieve pressure from the tender area.
On Saturday, Forte was re-shod with a full shoe, and he galloped 1 1/4 miles and appeared to be moving fine. Pletcher doesn’t typically gallop his horses the day they race. Mike Repole, who co-owns Forte with Vinnie and Teresa Viola's St. Elias Stable, said the gallop was done because Pletcher wanted to be totally comfortable that the horse was healthy enough to run.
After the gallop, Nick Smith, the chief examining veterinarian for the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, examined the horse. He told Repole and Pletcher that the horse was “tick off right front,” Repole said.
Smith would not comment to reporters at the barn.
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“I think the vets are being overly cautious, but I understand that the safety of the horse is the most important thing,” Repole said. “I’m more concerned about the systems that we have and scratching this horse under these bright lights. I’m sad. I’m devastated. I’m devastated for Todd Pletcher. I’m devastated for Todd Pletcher’s barn. I’m devastated for my friends and family back at the hotel that I have to scratch the Derby favorite. It’s almost déjà vu all over again.”
The day before the 2011 Kentucky Derby, Repole and Pletcher had to announce the scratch of Uncle Mo, who, like Forte, was the 2-year-old champion from the previous year and was among the top choices for the Derby.
Pletcher was still likely to start the favorite in the Derby in Tapit Trice. He also had Kingsbarns to run.
Forte became the fifth horse to be scratched out of this year’s Kentucky Derby, which originally drew 23 entrants. Others scratched included Practical Move and Skinner (both due to temperatures), Lord Miles, the result of two unexplained horse deaths earlier in the week from trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.’s barn, and Continuar, whose connections felt the horse wasn’t training satisfactorily.
Repole said he asked Smith if he could wait until 3 p.m. or 4 p.m. to re-examine the horse. Repole was told no, though he wouldn’t say what Smith’s reasoning was.
“It’s a bad one, so I’d rather not say,” Repole said. “They said they couldn’t do it.”
Repole said he had several veterinarians look at Forte, including Dr. Larry Bramlage and Steve Allday, and Repole said both told him the horse should be good enough to run.
Repole grew more emotional as he spoke outside Pletcher’s barn, especially when talking about how a 3-year-old has just one opportunity to run in the Derby.
“This is where they separate the greatest horses of all time, he’s won six out of seven,” Repole said. “To have him in the barn for a race like this it’s devastating. It’s no different than any other great athlete who couldn’t perform for Game 7. This is Game 7.”
Repole said Forte would definitely race again and didn’t discount the possibility of him running in the Preakness on May 20.
Irad Ortiz Jr., who was scheduled to ride Forte, picked up the mount on Cyclone Mischief, who had been expected to be ridden by Corey Lanerie.
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