Champion Forte Retired From Racing, Will Stand At Spendthrift Farm

Co-owner Mike Repole announced Thursday that champion Forte has been retired from racing, the Daily Racing Form's David Grening reports.

BloodHorse reports the 3-year-old son of Violence will stand at Spendthrift Farm in Lexington, Ky., for the 2024 breeding season.

Forte had been dealing with quarter crack issues earlier this month, which trainer Todd Pletcher expressed confidence at the time could be addressed in time for a start in the Breeders' Cup Classic, but the decision was made to retire the colt following a morning gallop on Thursday at Keeneland.

Forte retires with seven wins in 10 starts for earnings of $3,029,830, racing for Repole and St. Elias Stable. He earned the Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old in 2022, with victories in the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes and G1 Breeders' Futurity culminating in a 1 1/2-length victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

He then established himself as a top contender in the Kentucky Derby with victories in the G2 Fountain of Youth Stakes and the G1 Florida Derby. Forte was set as the morning line favorite in the Derby, but but he was scratched by state veterinarians the morning of the race due to a bruise in his right-front foot.

Forte came back to finish second in the Belmont Stakes, then he won the G2 Jim Dandy Stakes. He finished fourth in the G1 Travers Stakes in what would be his final career start.

This story will be updated.