Todd Pletcher | Horse Racing Free Tips

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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Pletcher Breezes Breeders’ Cup Dozen at Keeneland

Trainer Todd Pletcher breezed a remarkable 12 of his intended Breeders' Cup starters at Keeneland on Thursday morning over the main track.

Heading the dozen was GI Breeders' Cup Classic hopeful Bright Future (Curlin), who arrived in Kentucky this week from Saratoga. He worked five furlongs in 1:01.40. Also working five furlongs for a possible Breeders' Cup start was Charge It (Tapit), who covered the distance in 1:01.20.

“We originally were going to work all of our Saturday (Nov. 4) horses tomorrow but with rain in the forecast for tomorrow, we moved it up a day,” Pletcher said. “It was a good morning, and I was pleased with all the works. They did what we wanted them to.”

Among the dozen workers were three Grade I winners from Keeneland's Fall Stars Weekend.

Coolmore Turf Mile winner Up to the Mark (Not This Time) breezed a half-mile in :50.20 in company with 2022 Coolmore Turf Mile winner Annapolis (War Front); Darley Alcibiades winner Candied (Candy Ride {Arg}) worked a half-mile in :49; and Claiborne Breeders' Futurity winner and `TDN Rising Star' Locked (Gun Runner) worked a half-mile in :48.20.

The remainder of the Pletcher brigade each worked half-miles: `TDN Rising Star' Agate Road (Quality Road) (:49.60), `TDN Rising Star' Fierceness (City of Light) (:48.40), Life Talk (Gun Runner) (:49), Life's an Audible (Audible) (:50), Noted (Cairo Prince) (:49.60) and Scalable (Speightstown) (:49.60).

Pletcher said he planned to give his runners one more work at Keeneland next Thursday or Friday before shipping to Santa Anita on Oct. 28.

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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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Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards Handed Out At Keeneland Tuesday Night

Winners were named across seven categories with a total of $122,000 awarded at the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, now in its eighth year in the United States, which concluded Tuesday evening at Keeneland Racecourse's Entertainment Center, Godolphin said in a press release after the event.

For the first time this year, in addition to the three finalists in each category, two alternates were also chosen and received monetary rewards. Todd Schrupp, FanDuel TV analyst, served as the master of ceremonies.

Tom Law, Saratoga Special Managing Editor and this year's judging panels chair, commented, “The winners and finalists honored at this year's ceremony, along with the alternates, are truly great representatives of the hard-working individuals in our industry. It's been said many times that they are the backbone of the industry that we all love; and it's absolutely true. And speaking for myself, as well as my fellow judges, we'd like to express our admiration for all the nominees and what they do for our sport.”

The Awards are primarily sponsored by Godolphin in partnership with the National HBPA, TOBA, The Jockey Club, and Breeders' Cup. Media partners are the TDN, BloodHorse Publications, Daily Racing Form, The Paulick Report, Fox Sports, Real Players Inside the Backstretch and FanDuel.

This year the awards received additional monetary and collateral support from category sponsors NYRA, 1/ST Racing, Keeneland, Hallway Feeds, NTRA, Hagyard Equine Medical Institute and Churchill Downs.

The winners of the Leadership, Breeding and Racing, the Support Services, as well as the Administration category, will receive a prize of $7,500 to the winner, and their farm/stable also receives $1,000. Two finalists are each awarded $2,500, and their respective farms/stables receive $1,000. Separate from the winner and two finalists, two runners-up receive $2,000 each.

The winner of the Newcomer Award will receive $5,000 and $1,000 to their farm/stable. Two finalists are each awarded $2,500. Two alternates receive $1,000 each.

The winner of the Community Award will receive a prize of $7,500 with an additional prize of $2,500 going to the charity of their choice. The runner-up will receive $2,500. Two alternates will receive $1,500 each.

The full list of winners, finalists and alternates are:
Newcomer Award, sponsored by NYRA
Winner: Dominick Merritt, Exercise Rider, Todd Pletcher
Finalists: Deja Robinson, Ed Brown Society and Nursing Staff Technician with Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital; Sara Gordon, Social Media Manager, Thoroughbred Daily News
Alternates: Adrianne Devaux, Cherie Devaux Racing Stable; Susan Kemper, Coolmore America/Ashford Stud

Support Services Award, sponsored by 1/ST Racing
Winner: Bill Vest, Backside Security Manager, Churchill Downs
Finalists: Rita Cutler, Security Guard, New York Racing Association; Tracy Attfield, Owner, TLore Management
Alternates: Raul Gutierrez, Santa Anita Park; Julie Adair, Farm Owner

Katherine McKee Administration Award, sponsored by Keeneland
Winner: Kelly Danner, Racing Operations Manager, Churchill Downs
Finalists: Jamie Bradley, Office Manager, Steve Asmussen Racing Stable; Samantha McGreevy, Sales Manager, Taylor Made Sales Agency
Alternates: Gwenn Pierce, WB Payson Park, LLC; Eleanor Poppe, New York Race Track Chaplaincy

Dedication to Breeding Award, sponsored by Hallway Feeds
Winner: Jimmy Tate, Assistant Broodmare Manager, WinStar Farm
Finalists: Phillip Hampton, Stallion Groom, Godolphin; Rafael Zambrano, Farm Manager, War Horse Place
Alternates: Harmon Sullivan, New Vocations Racehorse Adoption; Abel Garcia, Four Pillars Holding, LLC

Dedication to Racing Award, sponsored by the NTRA
Winner: Myra “Mickey” Hall, Groom, Herringswell Stables
Finalists: Kathy Sanchez, Assistant Trainer, Tom Amoss Racing Stable; Laura “Tils” Tilbury, Hotwalker, Todd Pletcher Racing Stables
Alternates: Carlos Davila, Craig Wheeler Racing Stable; Moises Morales, Groom

Leadership Award, sponsored by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute
Winner: Manuel Hernandez, Farm Manager, Walmac Farm
Finalists: Gene Guy, Farm Manager, Glencrest Farm; Loretta Lusteg, Assistant Trainer, John C. Kimmel Racing Stable
Alternates: Juan Aguilar, Indian Creek Farm; Christine Jones, Pleasant Acres Stallions

Dr. J. David “Doc” Richardson Community Award, sponsored by Churchill Downs
Winner: Linda Doane, Lifestyle Program Director, The Healing Place/Churchill Downs
Runner-up: Francisco Barrera, Backstretch Employee Service Team
Alternates: Merlin Cano, Backside Learning Center; Diana Varon, Keeneland Racetrack Chaplaincy

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