Pletcher considers pointing Forte, Tapit Trice to Travers

With the Belmont Stakes in the rearview mirror, Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher has the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers on Aug. 26 at Saratoga in mind for Forte and Tapit Trice, who finished a respective second and third in Saturday’s test of the champion.

Pletcher, a four-time Belmont Stakes winner, said both horses would be under consideration for either the Haskell (G1) on July 22 at Monmouth Park or the Jim Dandy (G2) on July 29 at Saratoga, after each ran a 100 Beyer Speed Figure in the Belmont Stakes.

“I think both races would be possible with both horses targeting the Travers, just deciding what we’re going to do leading up to the Travers,” Pletcher said. “We’ll just give it a couple weeks, see how they come out of it, how they’re training and go from there.”

Sent off as the 2-1 post time favorite, Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable’s 2022 champion 2-year-old colt Forte established fifth position heading into the first turn, lost a touch of ground around the far turn and made a late-closing kick in deep stretch to finish 1 1/2 lengths behind the victorious Arcangelo.

The Belmont Stakes was Forte’s first start since capturing the Florida Derby (G1) on April 1 at Gulfstream Park, where he defeated next-out Kentucky Derby winner Mage by one length. The effort came one month after defeating Mage in the Fountain of Youth (G1) over the same track. Such credentials made Forte the Kentucky Derby favorite, but he was scratched the morning of the race with a bruised foot.

Pletcher expressed satisfaction in the son of Violence’s effort, especially considering the time in between races.

“That was a key part of the race,” Pletcher said of Forte’s trip around the far turn. “He lost a little bit of position around the three-eighths pole and had to swing out five to six wide around the same time the winner (Arcangelo) cut the corner. That was sort of the difference there, but all things considered, first time out in 10 weeks going a mile and a half, it was a big effort. I think Forte’s body of work is impressive. He beat the Kentucky Derby winner in the Fountain of Youth and the Florida Derby. He came with a big effort despite not having an ideal schedule leading into it.”

Whisper Hill Farm and Gainesway Stable’s Tapit Trice was five to six wide down the backstretch and launched his bid around the far turn under coaxing from Luis Saez. He made up ground in the final furlong but could not catch Arcangelo while being nosed out of place honors by Forte to his outside.

“We wanted to get him into the clear and get him under that rhythm,” Pletcher said. “I thought going into the far turn that he had a big chance. He stayed on and kept on fighting until the end. It seemed like he was emboldened a little bit when Forte came up outside of him. It was a good effort, he just didn’t quite get there.”

Pletcher continued to speak volumes of Forte for overcoming the adversity of contesting the endurance-testing Belmont Stakes off 10 weeks of rest.

“Sometimes when you get off schedule like we did, it’s not always easy to get back on,” Pletcher said. “Thankfully, we were able to get this race and, hopefully, set him up for the rest of the year.”

Pletcher also conditioned Forte’s sire Violence, whose promising racing career was cut short when injured after a second-place effort in the 2013 Fountain of Youth.

“Physically they’re very similar horses,” Pletcher said. “He’s clearly a son of Violence when you look at him. Both are very talented and good-minded horses. Violence was unfortunately injured in the Fountain of Youth, and I feel like his full potential was never seen. He’s turned out to be a terrific stallion now.”

Not all was lost on Belmont Stakes Day for Pletcher, who saddled Up to the Mark and Emmanuel to graded-stakes scores on the undercard.

Up to the Mark, owned by Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable, earned his second straight Grade 1, capturing the 10-furlong Manhattan by 2 3/4 lengths under Irad Ortiz Jr. The son of Not This Time earned a 105 Beyer Speed Figure for the winning effort, which came five weeks following a victory in Churchill Downs’s Turf Classic (G1) on May 6.

“I thought he was very impressive again,” Pletcher said. “It was his first time at a mile and a quarter, so we were confident he would handle it, but it’s always good when they can prove it in the afternoon. He’s starting to figure it out. He settled really well and was ready when called upon.”

With two Grade 1 triumphs under his belt, Up to the Mark has established himself among the top in the turf division. Pletcher mentioned the possibility of targeting the Arlington Million (G1) on Aug. 12 at Colonial Downs, adding that the horse could be campaigned toward either the Breeders’ Cup Mile or the 12-furlong Breeders’ Cup Turf, both on Nov. 4 at Santa Anita.

“I think that’s what we have to figure out as we start thinking about potential Breeders’ Cup races down the road,” Pletcher said. “I think he’s one of those horses that could go in the Mile or the Turf. But I think the Arlington Million and a mile and a quarter is a race to look at.”

WinStar Farm and Siena Farm’s Emmanuel earned a career-high 100 Beyer when capturing the Poker (G3) going one mile over the Widener turf course. The son of More Than Ready entered off a close third in the nine-furlong Dinner Party (G2) on May 20 at Pimlico, but Pletcher did not rule out a stretch in distance next out.

“He’s always been a horse with a lot of potential,” Pletcher said. “He’s come back this year very well. He’s another one that you could probably look at multiple distances with. I think it’s something to consider.”

Pletcher mentioned the Arlington Million for Emmanuel as well as Saratoga’s Kelso (G3) on July 15 going one mile or the Bowling Green (G2) on July 30 at 11 furlongs.