Mike Repole and St. Elias Stable's juvenile champion and 3-1 Kentucky Derby favorite Forte will have to work out a trip from post 15 in this year's Run for the Roses. The 3-year-old son of Violence won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile last November at Keeneland as well as both of his starts in 2023, the G2 Fountain of Youth and the G1 Florida Derby. Irad Ortiz, Jr. will keep the ride for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher.
Pletcher trainee Tapit Trice will be the second choice on the morning line for this year's Kentucky Derby at 5-1, and drew gate 5 during Monday's post position draw. To be ridden by Luis Saez, the $1.3 million son of Tapit enters the starting gate off wins in the G3 Tampa Bay Derby and G1 Blue Grass Stakes. Tapit Trice is owned by Whisper Hill Farm and breeder Gainesway Stable.
A third entry for Pletcher is 12-1 chance Kingsbarns, frontrunning winner of the G2 Louisiana Derby last out. Jose Ortiz has been tabbed to ride the son of Uncle Mo for owner Spendthrift Farm.
Louisville native Brad Cox will saddle four in this year's edition of the Kentucky Derby, including the third choice on the morning line in 8-1 chance Angel of Empire in post 14. Flavien Prat will pilot the Albaugh Family Stables' son of Classic Empire, last-out an impressive 4 1/4-length winner of the G1 Arkansas Derby.
Cox's other entrants are: Hit Show (post 1), Verifying (post 2), and Jace's Road (post 12).
West Coast trainer Tim Yakteen will saddle the co-fourth choice selection, G1 Santa Anita Derby winner Practical Move at odds of 10-1, as well as G1 Arkansas Derby third Reincarnate, listed at 50-1 on the morning line. Practical Move will be ridden by Ramon Vazquez from post 10, while Reincarnate gets the services of Hall of Famer John Velazquez from post 7.
Also listed at 10-1 on the morning line in Japan's Derma Sotogake, last-out winner of the G2 UAE Derby on the Dubai World Cup undercard. The son of talented sprinter Mind Your Biscuits will leave the starting gate from post position 17.
Kentucky Derby Field:
- Hit Show (Manny Franco, Brad Cox) 30-1
- Verifying (Tyler Gaffalione, Brad Cox) 15-1
- Two Phil's (Jareth Loveberry, Larry Rivelli) 12-1
- Confidence Game (James Graham, Keith Desormeaux) 20-1
- Tapit Trice (Luis Saez, Todd Pletcher) 5-1
- Kingsbarns (Jose Ortiz, Todd Pletcher) 12-1
- Reincarnate (John Velazquez, Tim Yakteen) 50-1
- Mage (Javier Castellano, Gustavo Delgado) 15-1
- Skinner (Juan Hernandez, John Shirreffs) 20-1
- Practical Move (Ramon Vazquez, Tim Yakteen) 10-1
- Disarm (Joel Rosario, Steve Asmussen) 30-1
- Jace's Road (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox) 15-1
- Sun Thunder* (Brian Hernandez, Ken McPeek) 50-1
- Angel of Empire (Flavien Prat, Brad Cox) 8-1
- Forte (Irad Ortiz, Jr., Todd Pletcher) 3-1
- Raise Cain (Gerrardo Corrales, Ben Colebrook) 50-1
- Derma Sotogake (Christophe Lemaire, Hidetaka Otonashi) 10-1
- Rocket Can* (Junior Alvarado, Bill Mott) 30-1
- Lord Miles (Paco Lopez, Saffie Joseph) 30-1
- Continuar (Ryusei Sakai, Yoshito Yahagi) 50-1
- AE – Cyclone Mischief 30-1
- AE – Mandarin Hero 20-1
- AE – King Russell 50-1
*Blinkers On
Kentucky Oaks field:
- Mimi Kakushi (20-1)
- The Alys Look (15-1)
- Gambling Girl (15-1)
- Southlawn (8-1)
- Wonder Wheel (12-1)
- Botanical (4-1)
- Wet Paint (5-2)
- Promiseher America (30-1)
- And Tell Me Nolies (15-1)
- Flying Connection (15-1)
- Defining Purpose (12-1)
- Dorth Vader (20-1)
- Affirmative Lady (10-1)
- Pretty Mischievous (10-1)
- AE – Taxed
- AE – Julia Shining
- AE – Hoosier Philly
The post Todd Pletcher-Trained Forte, Tapit Trice Draw Well To Lead Morning Line For 2023 Kentucky Derby appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
