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Champion Forte Arrives At Spendthrift, Will Stand For 50k

2-year-old champion and 'TDN Rising Star' Forte (Violence), whose retirement was announced earlier this week, has arrived at Spendthrift Farm where he will take up stud duty in 2024. His introductory fee will be $50,000 S&N and he is available for inspection by appointment.

“The first thing I think about Forte is just how much of an honor it is for us to bring a horse like him to Spendthrift. He's the fifth champion we've been fortunate enough to add to our stallion ranks since 2020, and that's a testament to what Mr. Hughes built and the commitment that Eric and Tammy Gustavson are now carrying forward,” said Spendthrift General Manager Ned Toffey. “While we are disappointed for Mike [Repole] and Vinnie [Viola] that Forte wasn't able to end his great career like a champion deserves to, we are very grateful for our partnership with them. Forte is the first 2-year-old champion to retire to Spendthrift in more than four decades, since the likes of Seattle Slew, Affirmed and Lord Avie. That's some pretty special company, and we couldn't be more excited about his future.”

Racing for Repole Stable and Viola's St. Elias Stable, Forte was named champion 2-year-old colt after a season which saw him break his maiden by 7 3/4 lengths on debut going five furlongs at Belmont and pick up three consecutive Grade I victories in the Hopeful S., the Breeders' Futurity and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. As a 3-year-old, he took the GII Fountain of Youth S. and the GI Curlin Florida Derby.

“Forte has given us the ride of a lifetime on the track and done everything asked of him and more under tremendous training by Todd Pletcher,” said Viola. “We are blessed to have raced such a talented horse in partnership with Mike Repole, and excited about his prospects as a sire at Spendthrift Farm.”

Repole added, “Vinnie and I are so fortunate to be blessed with this ultra-talented colt. Forte's 2-year-old season, from breaking his maiden at five furlongs in May and winning three Grade I's including capping it off with a spectacular effort in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, left us in awe. To come back at three and win the Fountain of Youth, Florida Derby and Jim Dandy, and run second in the Belmont at 1 1/2 miles, was amazing. Forte is just a special horse.”

Forte retired with career earnings of $3,029,830.

“Forte just exuded class in everything he did, which is something you only see from those few special ones that come through,” Pletcher said. “Some probably won't quite appreciate how special he was because of the bad luck we faced this year. Obviously, the timing could not have been worse to have the foot bruise that kept him out of the Derby, and we have been battling a quarter crack on a different foot that was going to force us to miss the Breeders' Cup and all our goals for the fall and winter. I've been fortunate to train three colts that were champion 2-year-olds but Forte is the first to win three Grade I's at two. Horses like that don't come around often and we'll miss him in the barn.”

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Nest to Bypass Breeders’ Cup Distaff

Reigning champion sophomore filly Nest (Curlin) will not contest next month's GI Breeders' Cup Distaff, trainer Todd Pletcher confirmed Saturday. Campaigned by Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Michael House, the 4-year-old was last seen finishing fourth in Keeneland's GI Spinster S. Oct. 8. Additionally, plans have yet to be solidified whether the filly will be retired after the sale or will return in 2024.

“While Nest has been galloping well since the Spinster, we just don't feel she's at her best for the Breeders' Cup Distaff,” Pletcher told TDN Saturday. “She's a remarkable talent who should generate a lot of attention at the Fasig-Tipton Night of the Stars Sale.”

A four-time Grade I winner in 2022, including in the Coaching Club American Oaks and Alabama S., the bay annexed one of three starts in 2023 and that was recorded when returning off an eight-month layoff to contest the GII Shuvee S. at Saratoga July 23.

The news comes on the heels of the announcement to sell the champion at the upcoming Fasig-Tipton November 'Night of the Stars' sale Nov. 7.

The filly's record currently stands at eight wins from 14 career starts and earnings in excess of $2 million.

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Forte Retired from Racing, Will Stand at Spendthrift

Forte (Violence–Queen Caroline, by Blame), the 2022 champion 2-year-old colt and GI Breeders Cup Juvenile winner, has been retired from racing and will stand the 2024 season at Spendthrift Farm, according to co-owner Mike Repole.

“According to Todd Pletcher,” said Repole Thursday afternoon, “he grabbed his quarter in the Travers and that turned into a quarter crack in his left front foot. We sent him to [farrier] Ian McKinlay to patch it up and he was galloping. Today, Todd sent him out for a gallop at Keeneland. He said he would need more time to make the Breeders' Cup so we simply ran out of time.

“He had five races as a 2-year-old and broke his maiden in May. We won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile in November. We had five races this year. So we got two years, 10 starts, seven wins, $3 million in earnings and a championship. That's pretty cool.”

Repole said consideration was given to racing Forte next year, but it was ultimately decided to send him to Spendthrift.

“The deal with Spendthrift included an option that we could have raced him next year. Everybody wants to talk about how incredible it was to have a horse like this. But there's a lot of stress and anxiety that comes along with owning a horse like this. We have a love for these horses and a love for the sport. Between races, [co-owner] Vinnie [Viola of St. Elias] and I are thinking, 'how did he gallop today, how did he work today, how did he eat today?' He's done as much as he can. We have some other really good horses who will be coming back next year. Bright Future, Dreamlike, some other good older horses. This horse did a lot.

“As far as a horse who put two really good years together back to back, he could be the best one I've ever owned. Just look at the races he won. He won Grade Is both years and had two great seasons. It's hard to retire these horses, but sometimes you have to look at the big picture and make some really tough, emotional decisions.”

Bred by South Gate Farm in Kentucky, Forte was acquired by Repole Stables and St. Elias for $110,0000 at the 2021 Keeneland September sale before being sent to Hall of Famer Pletcher. Named a 'TDN Rising Star' on debut, he closed out his 2-year-old season with three straight Grade I victories, including the Hopeful S. and Claiborne Breeders' Futurity.

Forte's 3-year-old season was fraught with ups and downs. He captured the GII Fountain of Youth S. and GI Florida Derby, the latter over subsequent GI Kentucky Derby winner Mage (Good Magic), but was scratched as the favorite the morning of the Kentucky Derby due to a bruised hoof. Two days later, it was announced he would be ineligible to run in the GI Preakness S. as the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) had placed him on a mandatory 14-day vet's list. Just a few days after that, it was learned he would be disqualified from his Hopeful victory of the year before due to a medication violation.

The colt did make the GI Belmont S., finishing second to Arcangelo (Arrogate), and came back to win the July 29 GII Jim Dandy S. in a nose thriller after an inquiry. After last seen finishing fourth in the GI Travers S. Aug. 26, he was treated for the quarter cracks mentioned by Repole. Despite not breezing, his team indicated as recently as Oct. 1 he was still being pointed to the GI Breeders' Cup Classic.

When asked if Forte was unlucky this year, Repole said, “If winning the Fountain of Youth, the Florida Derby and the Jim Dandy with a horse is bad luck I wish I had more bad luck like that. He was also second in the Belmont. He won races that I dreamed about winning when I was kid. This horse did nothing but give Vinnie Viola and I two full great seasons of racing. Take away Arcangelo, give me a 3-year-old that had better year than he did.

“Was he the Derby favorite and was he scratched? Of course he was. Did the horse he beat two times win the Derby? Yes. But you can't look back. Were there highs and lows? Yes. This game is all about highs and lows. But 99% of the people just get the lows and not the highs. Vinnie and I were congratulating each other today and we reminisced. This horse gave us a lot of thrills.”

Forte retires with a record of 10-7-1-0 and earnings of $3,029,830.

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Catching Up with 2010 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Winner Uncle Mo

When Indian Charlie died prematurely from cancer at the age of 16 in 2011, the loss was palpable. He had perennially been among the nation's leading sires, while his prowess as a broodmare sire had yet to fully emerge. He had several sons already at stud, but waiting in the wings was his top successor and one who would ultimately put him on the map as a sire of sires. At the time of Indian Charlie's death, Uncle Mo had just closed out his racing career and was preparing for his first breeding season.

No one could have envisioned what would happen next. Uncle Mo was the runaway leading freshman sire in 2015, setting what was then a record for freshman earnings with his first crop, but he didn't stop there. He's constantly come up with good horse after good horse since, then sent his own first sons to stud, where they took three of the top four freshman spots in 2020. And he's showing no signs of slowing down, with current GISWs including Breeders' Cup-bound Arabian Knight and Adare Manor. Two of his sons–dual Breeders' Cup winner Golden Pal and GISW Mo Town–have since joined Uncle Mo on Ashford's roster. As icing on the cake, Uncle Mo's first daughters are doing him credit as a broodmare sire, with Saturday's GI American Pharoah S. winner Muth (Good Magic) and this summer's GI TVG.com Haskell S. winner Geaux Rocket Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}) among his early black-type winners as a damsire.

Uncle Mo, and the man who campaigned him, Mike Repole, are so entrenched as part of the fabric of the upper echelon of the sport that it's difficult to remember that wasn't the case as recently as 15 years ago. When 'Mo' was born, Repole had never even won a stakes race and was focused on claimers. Repole's purchase of the bay as a $220,000 yearling at Keeneland September in 2009 changed everything.

No one can tell it better than Repole himself, who captures the heart of the sport as he shares his memories:

“Basically if there was no Uncle Mo, Repole Stable wouldn't be where it is today. He was the patriarch to Repole Stable. I was in horse racing at a claiming level probably from 2004-2009 and then the son of Indian Charlie out of the dam Playa Maya burst on the scene. I was just doing business with Todd [Pletcher] for about a year and I asked him if he liked the horse. He said, 'I think he's really good,' but I didn't know what that meant.

“We won [on debut] on Travers Day. Uncle Mo stole the day. The day was supposed to be about the Travers but he broke his maiden by 14 and that's what people were talking about.

“I never had a good horse like that before. He was something special. So now, [I'm realizing] this is pretty serious.

“I got to witness a superstar [break his maiden]. As someone who has been in racing as a fan since I was 13, I watched horses do this and then I'd be awestruck. I felt like a 13-year-old kid again. It took me about five minutes before I realized he was my horse and I was on my way to the winner's circle.

“I never had a horse like this; I had chills.”

And that was just Uncle Mo's maiden! Uncle Mo would go next in the GI Champagne S. at Belmont in October of 2010 and get Repole his very first black-type win.

“I was 0-37 in stakes races before,” said Repole. “Uncle Mo was my first stakes win. It was pretty special. He won the Champagne by five lengths. Then we went to Churchill [for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile] and he was the favorite. He won by five lengths again.

“Fifteen years ago I didn't even know what the Eclipse Awards were and then I won one. It was all new, it was surreal. My whole family–50 or 60 of us–went to every single race. I always knew the game, but this with Uncle Mo was something special.”

Repole, in partnership, has won two more Eclipse Awards with Breeders' Cup winners: Vino Rosso in 2019 and Forte in 2022.

“To win the Breeders' Cup, to be an Eclipse Award winner…they all feel incredibly special, but nothing like Uncle Mo.

“The feelings I experienced then, the innocence of being a first-time owner of a pretty special horse, it makes me emotional just thinking about it.”

Ashford, where Uncle Mo now stands, is no stranger to top-class stallions. It's a testament to his ability as a sire that Uncle Mo has topped the Ashford roster's fees for the past few years.

“Uncle Mo was a sensational racehorse and is proving to be a very important stallion,” said Charlie O'Connor, Ashford's director of sales. “Successful from the start, he sired 25 stakes winners from his first crop including a Kentucky Derby winner and has since gone on to sire 14 Grade I winners and just shy of 100 stakes winners. They can run on any surface and at any distance: he can get you a Grade I Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner, a Grade I Belmont Stakes winner, and everything in between. He has had another terrific year at the sales with five $1-million+ yearlings and is proving to be a very successful sire of sires and an emerging top broodmare sire, all of this whilst still only being 15 himself. He's a very special horse.”

Uncle Mo (2008 bay horse, Indian Charlie–Playa Maya, by Arch)

Lifetime record: Ch. 2yo colt, MGISW, 8-5-1-1, $1,606,000

Breeders' Cup connections: B-D. Michael Cavey DVM (KY); O-Repole Stable; T-Todd Pletcher; J-John Velazquez.

Current location: Coolmore America/Ashford Stud, Versailles, Ky.

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