Early favorite for the Kentucky Derby has been scratched hours before the race.
Kentucky Derby hopeful Forte works out at Churchill Downs on Friday, May 3rd, 2023, in Louisville, Ky. The 149th running of the Kentucky Derby is scheduled for Saturday.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The early favorite for the Kentucky Derby was scratched Saturday hours before the race.
Forte was declared out of the 149th Derby, according to Churchill Downs spokesperson Darren Rogers. Co-owner Robert Repole stated that Kentucky Horse Racing Commission veterinarians had concerns about a bruised right front foot.
It was the sixth scratch this week from the $3 million race, the first time that many were scratched since 1936. In that year, 19 horses were entered and 18 ran.
The colt had encountered the track during a workout on Thursday, but trainer Todd Pletcher had downplayed it.
State vets were at Pletcher’s barn early on Saturday to examine Forte, who galloped on the track and jogged past the barn.
Forte had a five-race winning streak and was the early 3-1 favorite. His jockey, Irad Ortiz Jr., will now ride Cyclone Mischief.
That leaves 16 horses to compete in the 1 1/4-mile Derby. The horses will break from posts 1 through 18 in the 20-stall starting gate. Posts 19 and 20 will be empty.
It was another pre-Derby disappointment for Repole.
He owned Uncle Mo, the early favorite for the 2011 Derby who was scratched the day before the race. The colt had a gastrointestinal issue and was eventually diagnosed with a rare disease in the liver. He resumed racing before retiring in November of that year.
Other horses that were scratched this week were Practical Move and Skinner, both due to a fever, and Durar.
Pletcher, a two-time Derby winner, will still saddle Tapit Trice and Kingsbarns.
It’s not the first time the favorite has been scratched.
In 2019, Omaha Beach missed the race due to an entrapped epiglottis, which affected his breathing. He underwent surgery and went on to race later that year.
Last year, Maxfield was scratched on Derby day after a soft tissue injury to the left front ankle was discovered that morning.
Churchill Downs said that certain wagers placed before the scratch will be refunded with the post-time favorite. Other wagers will receive consolation payouts. All other early wagers on Forte, except for the Derby future bet, will be returned.
Post time for the Derby is shortly before 6 p.m. EDT.
