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Violence Colt Turns In ‘Strong’ Debut, Earns ‘Rising Star’ Nod

Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's Forte (Violence) was no secret to the betting public as the heavy 1-5 favorite for the Friday lid-lifted at Belmont Park and ran away from his overmatched rivals down the lane to earn 'TDN Rising Star' accolades.

The$80,000 Keeneland November weanling turned $110,000 Keeneland September acquisition had registered three works since shipping up from trainer Todd Pletcher's South Florida base at Palm Beach Downs and signaled his readiness with a best-of-24 half-mile from the gate that was timed in :48 flat May 20, just outworking Summonyourcourage (Practical Joke), who was third when making his first career appearance at Churchill Friday afternoon.

Debuting in the Repole blue-and-orange, Forte was not the quickest away and was under a hustling ride from third behind a :22.43 opening quarter. Pulled out three wide to deliver his challenge as they neared the stretch, the prohibitive chalk engaged pacesetting Wasabi Boy (Lord Nelson x Gas Station Sushi) a furlong and a half from home, got a few left-handed reminders from Irad Ortiz, Jr. and was in hand for the final sixteenth of a mile. The winning margin was 7 3/4 lengths, while Wasabi Boy was over eight lengths ahead of the rest of the field.

Forte is the first foal from his dam, herself a four-time stakes winner and a half-sister to a pair of stakes horses. Queen Caroline is also the dam of a yearling colt by Uncle Mo and is was most recently bred to Authentic. The colt's third dam is a half-sister to Contrive (Storm Cat), the dam of champion 2-year-old filly Folklore (Tiznow). This is also the family of GSW Tizahit (Tiznow), GSP Divided Attention (A.P. Indy), GSP Iqbaal (Medaglia d'Oro) and Japanese Triple Crown hero Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}).

1st-Belmont, $87,300, Msw, 5-27, 2yo, 5f, :58.21, ft, 7 3/4 lengths.
FORTE, c, 2, by Violence
1st Dam: Queen Caroline (MSW, $401,608), by Blame
2nd Dam: Queens Plaza, by Forestry
3rd Dam: Kew Garden, by Seattle Slew
Sales history: $80,000 Wlg '20 KEENOV; $110,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $49,500. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
O-Repole Stable & St. Elias Stable; B-Southgate Farm (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher.

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Second Chances: ‘An Added Sweetness’ for Juddmonte Campaigning Arrogate Homebred Artorius

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar.

After blitzing home to finish a strong second on debut at Keeneland, Juddmonte homebred Artorius (c, 3, Arrogate–Paulassilverlining, by Ghostzapper) could make his next start during the upcoming GI Belmont S. Racing Festival.

“That was maybe a bit short for him and there's a race on June 10th going a one-turn mile at Belmont,” Juddmonte USA General Manager Garrett O'Rourke said. “Everything is going well with the colt. We'll keep our fingers crossed and hopefully he continues to progress. He's a good-looking horse.”

Off as the 3-1 second choice in his unveiling for Chad Brown going six furlongs in Lexington Apr. 16 (video), Artorius was away in good order from stall three and was immediately under a ride in eighth through an opening quarter in a sharp :22.13.

Still with plenty to do rounding the far turn, the dark bay was taken widest of all as they straightened, and despite switching to his left lead approaching the final sixteenth, came flying home on the outside in :12.07 to finish 1 1/2 lengths behind 'TDN Rising Star' Under Oath (Speightstown). Artorius earned an 83 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.

“He just had a few issues early on as a 2-year-old, so we brought him home and let him grow up a bit,” O'Rourke said. “We brought him back and he's been a different horse altogether. Chad kept saying that he had turned the corner and that he really liked him going into his debut. He obviously came across a good horse [Under Oath] who had first run on him. But, oh God, we loved the way he came home–the final eighth, especially.”

Juddmonte purchased Artorius's dam Paulassilverlining privately from breeder Vince Scuderi ahead of her 5-year-old season with the gone-to-soon Arrogate in mind as a future mate. She recorded two wins at the highest level that term–the GI Madison S. and GI Humana Distaff S.–while carrying Juddmonte's green-and-pink silks.

Paulassilverlining, a half-sister to two-time GI Carter H. winner Dads Caps (Discreet Cat), is also responsible for the 2-year-old filly Parameter (Into Mischief) and a Tapit filly of this year. Parameter recently joined Brown's Saratoga string, according to O'Rourke.

The brilliant GI Breeders' Cup Classic and G1 Dubai World Cup hero Arrogate, the richest North American racehorse in history, was humanely euthanized at Juddmonte after suffering from an undetermined illness in June 2020. He is currently represented by 27 winners, headed by GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Secret Oath.

“There will certainly be an added sweetness–we'd love to have a good Arrogate,” O'Rourke concluded. “And most especially, also get a good start to Paulassilverlining's broodmare career as well. He definitely has talent, it's just a matter of how much.”

The 'Second Chances' honor roll is headed by two-time Breeders' Cup winner Golden Pal (Uncle Mo), GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby winner and Lane's End stallion Honor A. P. (Honor Code) and MGISW and 'TDN Rising Star' Paradise Woods (Union Rags). This term's ultra-impressive GI Carter H. winner Speaker's Corner (Street Sense), GIII Westchester S. winner Cody's Wish (Curlin) and GI Preakness S. third-place finisher Creative Minister (Creative Cause) have also been featured in the series. Other standouts include: GSW Moonlight d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro), GSW & MGISP Spielberg (Union Rags), GSW Backyard Heaven (Tizway), MSW and 'TDN Rising Star' Gidu (Ire) (Frankel {GB}); and GISP A Mo Reay (Uncle Mo).

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Pletcher Sophs Work Towards Belmont Day Spots

A trio of 3-year-olds from the barn of Todd Pletcher took to the Belmont dirt training track Friday morning as they prepare for stakes engagements during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival.

Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo), who defeated GI Preakness S. hopeful Early Voting (Gun Runner) in the GII Wood Memorial S. Apr. 9 ahead of a closing fifth in the GI Kentucky Derby May 7, breezed a half-mile in the company of his GI Central Bank Ashland S.-winning stable companion Nest (Curlin) in :50.02. Owned by Donegal Racing and Repole Stable, Mo Donegal is pointing for the GI Belmont S. June 11, while Nest is under consideration for a start against the boys in the 'Test of the Champion.' Nest's sire was famously defeated by the Pletcher-trained Rags to Riches (A.P. Indy) in the 2007 Belmont.

“It was a good maintenance breeze,” said Pletcher's New York-based assistant Byron Hughes. “They both were moving well and galloped out well. They were on even terms throughout and we were happy with the breeze.”

'TDN Rising Star' Wit (Practical Joke) went five furlongs in the company of fellow 'Rising Star' Malathaat (Curlin) in 1:01.58 Friday morning. Wit most recently returned from a six-month break to take out the GII Bay Shore S. by a nose Apr. 9 and will remain at the seven-furlong distance for the GI Woody Stephens S. on Belmont S. day. Malathaat also made a victorious return to action in Keeneland's GIII Baird Doubledogdare S. Apr. 22, besting Friday's GII DuPont Distaff romper Super Quick (Super Saver), and faces a mouthwatering matchup with champion Letruska (Super Saver) in the GI Ogden Phipps S. the same afternoon.

“Both are good breeze horses and made a good matchup,” Hughes said. “They went head-and-head throughout in 1:01 and change and had a good, solid gallop out.”

Highland Chief On to Manhattan…

Highland Chief (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), who caused a 19-1 upset in the May 14 GI Man o' War S., is likely to make his next appearance on the Belmont S. undercard in the GI Manhattan S.

“I think we'll point to the Manhattan if he's doing well,” trainer Graham Motion said. “The timing is right and I don't have a concern whatsoever about the mile and a quarter for him. I think he's pretty tactical and I think we're certainly going to keep him over here and not consider taking him over to England anytime soon. It had been mentioned to me before the race, but after we all got together, I think we'll keep him for an American campaign.

BC Champ Possible for Met…

Trainer Wayne Catalano has told the NYRA racing office that his GI Breeders' Cup Sprint hero Aloha West (Hard Spun) could make the trip to the Big Apple for the GI Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan H. June 11. The Maryland-bred 5-year-old made his seasonal debut in the GI Churchill Downs S. May 7, finishing third behind Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) and Reinvestment Risk (Upstart).

“He went on the dead rail and got pushed a little early,” Catalano said. “It was a tough race. The only horse that went up the rail the last eighth of the mile was the Derby winner [Rich Strike]. From what I saw, everyone else was on the middle of the racetrack.”

The Met is also likely to attract undefeated 'TDN Rising Star' Flightline (Tapit) and GI Carter H. hero Speaker's Corner (Street Sense).

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New TV Ad Launched by We Are NY Horse Racing

The launch of a new television advertisement was announced by officials at We Are NY Horse Racing Friday, titled 'Community.' It seeks to further educate and inform New Yorkers about the importance of horse racing to the New York State economy.

The ad will air on broadcast and cable networks across the state beginning Friday, with additional ads to be unveiled in the coming months.

The ad also appears on YouTube, below.

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