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Violence’s Forte Bounces Back in Hopeful as Rising Stars Run 1-2-3

Repole Stable and St Elias Stable's Forte (Violence), the beaten favorite in the GIII Sanford S. on opening weekend, rebounded with an emphatic victory through the rain drops in the GI Hopeful S. on closing day at Saratoga Monday. Sent off at 6-1, the dark bay colt was squeezed back at the break and rated near the back of the field as favored Gulfport (Uncle Mo), looking to rebound from his own defeat as a Spa favorite in the Aug. 13 GII Saratoga Special, jumped out to the early lead over the sloppy track and took the field through fractions of :22.74 and :45.57. Forte was making rapid progress turning for home and, as Gulfport floated wide into the stretch, he strode powerfully to the lead along the inside and splashed home a three-length winner. Gulfport was a clear second as Blazing Sevens (Good Magic) completed the 'TDN Rising Star' trifecta.

“They ran away from me a little bit and my horse doesn't have that kind of speed,” winning jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. said of his trip aboard the winner. “I didn't panic, I knew we'd be in the back. I kept him in the race and in the turn I started working on him. He started to pick it up slowly, but he picked it up. At the top of the stretch, I hit him a couple times and he responded really well. I knew I had a chance to win, so I just kept him busy.”

Winning trainer Todd Pletcher said, “He came really energetic into the paddock, but it was a good energy, though. You could tell he was kind of enjoying the rain and playing in the slop and splashing in the puddles in the paddock. I love the way he kicked away from the pony, he warmed up awesome.

Forte was one of 45 yearlings purchased by the partnership of Mike Repole's Repole Stable and Vinnie Viola's St. Elias Stables in a $16.2-million spending spree at last year's Keeneland September sale. The partnership, with bloodstock agent Jacob West signing the tickets, was the leading buyer at the auction.

“This is what we're about,” Repole said from the winner's circle Monday. “Vinnie, Todd and I made a big investment last year. The team from Jim Martin, Ed Rosen, Danielle Bricker, and Jacob West. This is what we do. It's been fun, Irad has been winning some big races for us, Todd and I have been friends for a long, long time. It's been a lot of fun.”

Forte, a much-hyped 1-5 favorite, was tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' following his 7 3/4-length victory in his five-furlong debut at Belmont Park May 27. Favored again in the July 16 GIII Sanford S., the dark bay colt was never in the mix and finished a lackluster fourth.

“Last time, he wasn't able to get extracted into the clear until really, really late,” Pletcher explained. “When he did, he showed some interest. He came back and trained really well with some older horses. His last breeze was with Bal Harbour who won earlier on the card. There were a lot of good indications that he was going to rebound and run to his capabilities, but you never know until you see it. I felt like the added distance was in his favor and he's a nice colt.”

Looking ahead to a potential next start for Forte, Pletcher said, “Our first reaction was to go to the [Oct. 1 GI] Champagne, but we'll talk to Vinnie and Mike and come up with a game plan. The Champagne is a race we've always thought highly of and that would be first on the radar.”

Pedigree Notes:

Forte is the sixth Grade I winner for Violence, whose son Volatile also enjoyed top-level success at the Spa in the 2020 GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt H.

Queen Caroline was purchased by Amy Moore of South Gate Farm for $170,000 at the 2014 Keeneland September sale. The mare went on to win four stakes in Moore's colors before becoming one of the Virginia farm's first broodmares. Forte is the mare's first foal. She has a yearling colt by Uncle Mo who is scheduled to sell as hip 11 in next Monday's first session of the Keeneland September sale. The mare is currently in foal to Not This Time.

Monday, Saratoga
HOPEFUL S.-GI, $300,000, Saratoga, 9-5, 2yo, 7f, 1:22.58, sy.
1–FORTE, 120, 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
   'TDN Rising Star' 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES
   WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. ($80,000 Wlg '20 KEENOV; $110,000
Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable;
B-South Gate Farm (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr..
$165,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $225,000. Werk Nick
   Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree
   or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Gulfport, 122, c, 2, Uncle Mo–Fame and Fortune, by
Unbridled's Song. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($275,000 Ylg '21
FTKJUL). 'TDN Rising Star' O-L. William & Corinne Heiligbrodt,
Jackpot Farm, Whispering Oaks Farm LLC and Coolmore Stud;
B-Diamond Creek Farm (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. $60,000.
3–Blazing Sevens, 120, c, 2, Good Magic–Trophy Girl, by
Warrior's Reward. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE,
   1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. 'TDN Rising Star' ($140,000 Ylg '21
KEEJAN; $225,000 Ylg '21 FTSAUG). O-Rodeo Creek Racing, LLC;
B-Tracy Farmer (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $36,000.
Margins: 3, 9, NK. Odds: 6.90, 1.00, 4.30.
Also Ran: Mo Strike, Bourbon Bash, Western Ghent.

Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Letter to the Editor: Mike Sekulic

Was Flightline's Pacific Classic the best performance since Secretariat's Belmont (as Bill Finley asked in The Week in Review in Monday's TDN)? Although it was great, the obvious answer is no, because we have witnessed many incredible races over the last nearly 50 years. But comparing and contrasting racehorses (and their best performances), and wondering how they stack up against each other, is part of what makes horse racing exciting and interesting. Secretariat's stupendous effort in the last leg of the Triple Crown was very likely the best performance by a racehorse. Flightline's stunning effort (specifically, the margin of victory) may have looked slightly better due to substandard competition.

Secretariat broke Gallant Man's 16-year-old track record by 2 3/5th seconds while running 2:24 in his historic tour de force in the 1973 Belmont S., at the demanding 12-furlong distance. Flightline missed the track record by less than 1/5th second in his 1:59 2/5 romp at 10-furlongs.

Many other horses over the years have run 1:59 2/5, or better, for 10-furlongs, including Spectacular Bid (world record), Quack, Secretariat, Affirmed, J.O. Tobin, Ghostzapper, Skip Away, Alysheba, In Excess, Candy Ride, Game On Dude, Best Pal, Gentlemen, Crystal Water, Ancient Title, Kennedy Road, Native Diver, and John Henry (via DQ…but he was only a nose behind). The list goes on and on, actually. Oh, and let us not forget Ancient Title's powerhouse victory in the 1977 Del Mar H., when it was contested at “120 feet less than 10-furlongs” and he ran 1:55 2/5, which the Los Angeles Times projected translated to 1:57 3/5 for the distance, which would have been a world record.

Obviously, many excellent horses have equaled or bettered Flightline's 10-furlong time, but Secretariat's 2:24 accomplishment stands alone for the 12-furlong distance, as no one has approached his time record. The closest anyone has come was Prove Out (while defeating Secretariat) in the 1973 Woodward S. in 2:25 4/5. Easy Goer clocked in at 2:26 in his Belmont S. win over Sunday Silence, while Hechizado and Nasty And Bold matched that clocking in respective Brooklyn H. victories.

American horses of the 21st Century do not compete nearly as often as their 20th Century counterparts. Should any of today's hothouse flowers be compared to the greats of the past who raced constantly? The heroes of the 1970's were battle-tested and danced every dance. During a 3-month period in 1972, the great Susan's Girl ran eight times! Also, in 1972 Cougar II won an 11-furlong turf race in 2:11 (New American record) and was wheeled back 3 weeks later to win at 8 1/2 furlongs on dirt in 1:39 1/5 (missing the world record by 1/5th second), which is a phenomenal achievement. At the end of 1973, Secretariat ran Sept. 15, Sept. 29, Oct. 8, and Oct. 28! These horses didn't need three to six months between starts! How would today's best fare with that kind of schedule?

Over the last 10 years or so, California Chrome, Arrogate, American Pharoah, Justify, or Flightline have been crowned “the best of all-time,” or “the best horse since Secretariat.” If you know the history of the sport you understand that many excellent racehorses have come along in the time span between Secretariat, in 1973, and now. However, it seems that all these horses are ignored, and only Secretariat is remembered. Secretariat and whoever the new “greatest horse of all time” is at the moment.

Forego, Seattle Slew, Affirmed, Ruffian, and many other all-time greats, stepped into the spotlight in the wake of Secretariat's 1970's reign. However, the most astonishing thing is that when today's flavor-of-the-month bandwagon comes along, it's bad enough that the four champions mentioned above are ignored, but what's worse is that the best horse since Secretariat–Spectacular Bid–is forgotten.

Spectacular Bid was a perfect 24 for 24 in the middle-distance range of 7 to 10 furlongs, and his career total was 30 starts, 26 wins, 2 seconds, 1 third. He set multiple track records and even a world record. How does he get ignored or dismissed as these other horses are crowned heir apparent to Secretariat?

Leapfrogging over a horse like Spectacular Bid is unthinkable.

It's important to remember the great horses and performances of the past to put things in perspective and to consider that what you're witnessing now may or may not be the greatest thing that ever happened. But the discussion about great horses is fun, and Flightline surely is part of that debate.

Although the field that Flightline beat this weekend was not very strong, as evidenced by the fact that it took Country Grammer, who didn't offer his best effort, 2:03 to negotiate 10 furlongs, and the others 2:04 and much worse. Still, that takes nothing away from Flightline, because he certainly is sublime. I share the excitement and enthusiasm about him. From the standpoint of sheer talent and ability, he's as good as a horse can possibly get…maybe better.

Mike Sekulic, Thousand Oaks, CA

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Four Stakes on Tap at Los Alamitos

Thoroughbred racing returns to Los Alamitos Sept. 16 with a seven-day season which will include four stakes races. The first of the stakes races is the $75,000 E.B. Johnston for 3-year-olds and up who are bred or sired in California. The race at one mile will be run Sept. 17.

The following day fillies and mares will face off in the $75,000 Dark Mirage S. at 1 1/16 miles. Completing the schedule are the $75,000 Los Alamitos Special for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles on Sept. 24 and the $75,000 Capote S. for 2-year-olds at 6 1/2 furlongs on closing day, Sept. 25.

Racing will be conducted Friday-Sunday the first week (Sept. 16-18) and Thursday-Sunday (Sept. 22-25) the final four days. Post time will be 1 p.m on weekdays and 12:30 p.m. on weekends.

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U.S. Wagering Holds Steady in August

Wagering on U.S. races held largely steady in comparison with 2021 figures, with year-to-date wagering reaching $8,604,332,789–up 0.24% from the 2021 figure of $8,583,460,027. During August, U.S. wagering was $1,194,876,167, a dip of 0.86% from last year's figure of $1,205,251,116.

Through August, U.S. purses were $843,635,983, an increase of 12.29% from the corresponding 2021 figure of $751,274,418. During August, U.S purses were $130,206,874–up 3.66% from the August 2021 figure of $125,611,453.

Comparing year-to-date figures from 2022 to 2020, wagering on U.S. races is up 17.76% and purses are up 62.57%.

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