Kentucky Derby 2023 contender profile: Forte

By now, Forte needs no introduction.

The Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner is the consensus Las Vegas favorite in Kentucky Derby 2023 futures, and the Violence colt is likely to be at least a near unanimous selection as champion 2-year-old male.

But part of the fun of the Kentucky Derby trail is the reintroduction of top 2-year-olds at 3, and trainer Todd Pletcher said Tuesday that Forte has resumed galloping with his South Florida-based string of horses after R&R at Stonestreet Farm's Ocala outpost.

The Hall of Fame conditioner said the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) on March 4 at Gulfstream Park is "penciled in" as Forte's 3-year-old debut, with his first published work expected "in a few weeks."

Forte has not raced since capping his expected championship season in the Juvenile on Nov. 4 at Keeneland. He was 4-for-5 last year, with other wins coming in the Breeders' Futurity (G1) and Hopeful (G1).

Michael Repole and Vincent Viola teamed to acquire Forte at the 2021 Keeneland September yearling sale for $110,000, and they campaign the colt as a partnership between their Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables.

Amy Moore's South Gate Farm bred Forte in Kentucky out of the Blame mare Queen Caroline, a Virginia-bred whom Moore campaigned to multiple stakes wins on turf on the mid-Atlantic circuit.