Champion Forte, the expected favorite for the Kentucky Derby (G1), breezed a half mile Saturday at Churchill Downs in his final serious work for the first jewel of the Triple Crown May 6.
The Violence colt was one of three definite Kentucky Derby starters as well as one possible that trainer Todd Pletcher sent to the track Saturday morning, Daily Racing Form reports.
With Irad Ortiz aboard, Forte was timed in :49.80, a clocking that ranked 96th of 149 timed moves at the distance, according to Equibase. The dark bay colt worked outside of 4-year-old stablemate Bright Future, an allowance winner earlier this month.
Forte, last year's champion 2-year-old male, has won both starts this year: the Fountain of Youth (G1) March 4 and Curlin Florida Derby (G1) April 1, both at Gulfstream Park. He is campaigned by Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable.
Whisper Hill Farm LLC and Gainesway Stable's Toyota Blue Grass (G1) victor Tapit Trice breezed a half mile outside of recent 3-year-old maiden winner Equivoqu. The Tapit colt's time was :48.20, ranking 2oth at the distance.
Spendthrift Farm's unbeaten Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Kingsbarns, a son of Uncle Mo with Jose Ortiz aboard, worked a half-mile in :48.40 in company with Major Dude, runner-up in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) March 25.
Spendthrift also campaigns Major Dude, a Bolt d'Oro colt, who would need two defections from Derby before Monday's 2 p.m. (ET) draw to make it into the race.
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