Forte will carry Pletcher flag in Fountain of Youth

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said early this week that reigning divisional champion Forte most likely will be the only one of his eight nominees he’ll enter Saturday for the March 4 Fountain of Youth Stakes while also revealing plans for several more of his Kentucky Derby hopefuls.

Forte, who capped a 4-for-5 juvenile season with Grade 1 victories in the Hopeful, Breeders’ Futurity, and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, is scheduled to breeze this weekend at Palm Beach Downs in what will be his sixth and final workout toward the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth. The Violence colt is owned by Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable.

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Meanwhile, Pletcher said Tapit Trice will run in the Tampa Bay Derby on March 11, while the Louisiana Derby on March 25 at Fair Grounds is the target for two of his other top prospects, Litigate and Kingsbarns. Also, Major Dude goes next in the Jeff Ruby Steaks on March 25 over Tapeta at Turfway Park.

The Fountain of Youth and Tampa Derby both are 100-point qualifiers (50-20-15-10-5) toward the Kentucky Derby on May 6. The Louisiana Derby and Jeff Ruby are 200-point races (100-40-30-20-10).

Tapit Trice, owned by Whisper Hill Farm and Gainesway Stable, was an eight-length winner of an allowance Feb. 4 at Gulfstream and is now 2 for 3.

Litigate, owned by Centennial Farms, won the Sam F. Davis on Feb. 11 at Tampa Bay Downs in his last start, earning 20 Kentucky Derby points.

Kingsbarns, owned by Spendthrift Farm, was a 7 3/4-length winner of a Feb. 12 allowance at Tampa, running his record to 2 for 2.

Major Dude, also owned by Spendthrift, began his career with three dirt races, including a winning debut, before switching to turf for his last four races. He won the Grade 3 Kitten’s Joy on the Gulfstream turf in his latest start Feb. 4.

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