Projected favorite Forte has drawn the sixth post position in a field of nine for this weekend's Belmont Stakes.
The race will mark a comeback opportunity for the Todd Pletcher-trained colt, who was the subject of much media attention last month when he became a last-minute veterinary scratch from the Kentucky Derby. It was later revealed that, unrelatedly, the Eclipse Award-winner also had a pending drug positive from a race he won as a 2-year-old. The New York Times broke the news of Forte's positive post-race test for meloxicam just ahead of a meeting between his connections and New York stewards, who ultimately disqualified him from his win in the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes.
Forte was placed on the veterinarian's list in Kentucky following his scratch from the Derby, which prohibited him from running in the Preakness. Pletcher told media over the weekend that the colt had completed the required workout before a regulatory veterinarian and post-work drug testing came back clear.
Forte posted his final workout for the Belmont Stakes last weekend, going five furlongs in :59.67 in company with a stablemate. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:12 2/5, to the satisfaction fo Pletcher, who said the colt cooled out well and is coming into the race well.
Forte will face stablemate Tapit Trice in the 1 1/2-mile contest, with the son of Tapit breaking from Post 2. Tapit Trice finished seventh in the Kentucky Derby and previously prevailed in a tough victory in the G1 Blue Grass Stakes.
The third betting choice on the morning line will be Brad Cox trainee Angel of Empire, who won the G1 Arkansas Derby en route to a third-place finish in the Kentucky Derby. He has finished off the board just once in his career of seven races thus far.
Six trainers account for the nine entries in this year's Belmont Stakes.
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