Forte wins Breeders' Futurity in a thrilling finish

Forte added a second Grade 1 win in his young career when prevailing in a thrilling stretch duel with favorite Loggins in the Grade 1, $600,000 Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland on Saturday. 

Dispatched as the 4-1 second-choice in the 14-horse field, Forte rallied wide on the second turn under Irad Ortiz Jr. and surged past pacesetter Loggins at the top of the stretch. Those two then commenced a stretch-long battle to the wire with Forte getting the victory in a final time of 1:44.74 for 1 1/16 miles. 

Long shot Red Route One (50-1) finished third with Instant Coffee rounding out the superfecta. With the win, Forte earns a fees-paid berth to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Keeneland on Nov. 5. 

Trainer Todd Pletcher told Horse Racing Nation by phone that he was "a little concerned early on" when Forte was lagging near the rear of the field.

"It looked like the track was playing kind to speed, and we were as far back as eighth," he said. "We had a lot of ground to make up. He kept improving his position down the backside and loved the way he finished. It's great to get a two-turn race under his belt prior to the Breeders' Cup over the track where they're going to run it."

About Forte coming from off the pace: "I think he's got to give him a little extra credit for it. It definitely was a concern going in. It's nice to see him overcome that and be so professional and take some dirt and split horses and finish up well. Everything you'd hope to see in young, developing horse."

Forte entered off a win in the seven-furlong Hopeful (G1) at Saratoga on Sept. 5. The 2-year-old Violence colt was a debut winner at Belmont Park in May and finished fourth in the Sanford (G3) prior to the Hopeful. 

The winner returned $10.86 on a $2 win bet.

Owned by Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable, Forte was a $110,000 auction purchase as a yearling.