Kentucky Derby workouts: Big 3 look ready for Todd Pletcher

Louisville, Ky.

One is like the high-school phenom who has gone on to become the No. 1 draft pick. His biggest threat and friendly rival is the privileged kid who is proving he can elevate his name on his own merit. And their fellow comrade is the would-be wunderkind whose raw ability hasn’t failed him yet.

They might have traveled different paths, but champion Forte, Grade 1 winner Tapit Trice and unbeaten Kingsbarns all have arrived at the same point seeking the same end game for their shared teacher. Saturday morning, the three heavy hitters representing the barn of Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher all managed to keep their legendary conditioner brimming with confidence as they completed their final major workouts at Churchill Downs in advance of Kentucky Derby 2023 next Saturday.

With rain having soaked the area Thursday night into Friday, Saturday had a rush-hour-like feel to it during training as nine Kentucky Derby contenders and two horses on the outside looking in at the top 20 put in their last bit of fine tuning ahead of the 1 1/4-mile classic. 

Headlining the 7:30 a.m. EDT reserved training period for Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Derby contenders were Pletcher’s well-regarded trio, with each working turning in half-mile moves in company. Blue Grass Stakes (G1) winner Tapit Trice was first on the scene, drilling four furlongs in 48.2 seconds with maiden winner Equivoque. The gray son of Tapit registered splits of 12.2, 24.0 and 36.4 seconds with a gallop-out at 1:00.6 after traveling on the outside on even terms throughout.

Reigning juvenile-male champion and Florida Derby (G1) hero Forte went through his paces next with jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard, clocking four furlongs in 49.8 seconds in company with Bright Future, rattling off splits of 12.4 and 24.6 seconds with a gallop-out at 1:02.6 in his typical methodical fashion.

Spendthrift Farm’s Kingsbarns, winner of the Louisiana Derby (G2) in only his third career start, completed the whirlwind of action with a half-mile in 48.4 seconds in company with Major Dude, currently No. 22 on the Derby points list, with splits of 12.8 and 24.4 seconds and a gallop-out at 1:00.8.

“Tapit Trice got into a really good rhythm and looked like he was getting over the ground really well with a strong gallop-out. He was clicking off 12s pretty steadily,” said Pletcher, who is seeking his third career Kentucky Derby triumph. “They all had good, solid works last week, so we wanted to do a little less today. I thought Kingsbarns and Major Dude worked really well, and I liked Forte’s breeze. I know it wasn’t flashy in terms of the final time, but he got in a really good rhythm and just looked like he was moving great, galloped out all the way around to the kitchen very much within himself. 

“When I talked to Irad before the work, I told him not to overdo it, to save something, and I think he did that.”

Jose Ortiz was aboard Kingsbarns for his move. Pletcher said that although he still needed to confirm the Derby riding assignment with the Spendthrift team, “I thought they got along well this morning.”

Showing up to Churchill on the first Saturday in May with multiple chances at victory has become old hat for Pletcher as this year marks the 12th time he is set to have three or more starters in the first leg of the Triple Crown. Even the eight-time Eclipse Award winner conceded this current bunch might be his best hand in terms of achievements and depth as Forte, Tapit Trice and Kingsbarns have combined for 15 wins and only two defeats.

The only blemish on Forte’s record came when he ran fourth in the Sanford Stakes (G3) at Saratoga last July. Since then, the doppelgänger son of Violence has won four Grade 1 tests, including his championship-clinching victory in the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, and showed he could overcome adversity when he battled through a wide trip in the April 1 Florida Derby to draw clear in the final strides and hit the wire with his ears pricked.

“Forte has amazed us with a lot of things he’s done,” Pletcher said. “He’s just been a natural athlete from day 1. The first time I saw him breeze in Ocala (Fla.) in March, he stood out that day and came into us and just everything we did something with him, he was impressive. We’ve had high expectations in his debut and ever since then.”

Expectations have always been in the clouds where Tapit Trice is concerned after he was purchased for $1.3 million out of the 2021 Keeneland September yearling sale. Campaigned by Whisper Hill Farm and Gainesway Stable, the gray colt has been physical standout with his presence and fluidity on the track, form he has backed up this season with a victory in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) and a gritty, neck triumph over Verifying in the Blue Grass Stakes. 

“His breeze today looked like he was just galloping,” said Todd Quast, manager of Mandy Pope’s Whisper Hill Farm. “He’ll be scary on Saturday. His Blue Grass Stakes was kind of his coming-out party, he got engaged a little more and settled and he came home strong. Early on, he’s one who always did everything right. He always had this huge stride, and he has just thrived under Todd’s program.”

The lightly raced Kingsbarns is trying to add his name to illustrious list in joining the filly Regret in 1915, Big Brown in 2008 and Triple Crown winner Justify in 2018 as the only horses since 1900 to win the Kentucky Derby with only three prior lifetime starts. In his try against graded company in the Louisiana Derby, the son of Uncle Mo took advantage of the lack of speed and led every point of call en route to a 3 1/2-length victory.

“I don’t think we’ve ever brought three colts here with the credentials that these three have,” Pletcher said. “With Kingsbarns, he’s only had three starts, and I think he’s a bit under the radar because of that. I thought this morning was a really good work from him with a strong gallop-out. My biggest concern is just the lack of seasoning, but he’s certainly displayed the talent level.