With the Belmont Stakes (G1) now in the rearview mirror, Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher has the $1.25-million Travers (G1) on August 26 at Saratoga Race Course in mind for Forte and Tapit Trice, who finished a respective second and third in Saturday's “Test of the Champion.”
Pletcher, a four-time Belmont Stakes winner, said both horses would be under consideration for either the Haskell (G1) on July 22 at Monmouth Park or the $500,000 Jim Dandy (G2) on July 29 at Saratoga, after each running a 100 Beyer Speed Figure in the Belmont Stakes.
“I think both races would be possible with both horses targeting the Travers, just deciding what we're going to do leading up to the Travers,” Pletcher said. “We'll just give it a couple weeks, see how they come out of it, how they're training and go from there.”
Sent off as the 2-1 post time favorite, Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's 2022 champion 2-year-old male Forte established fifth position heading into the first turn, lost a touch of ground around the far turn, and made a late closing kick in deep stretch to finish 1 1/2 lengths behind the victorious Arcangelo.
The Belmont Stakes was Forte's first start since capturing the Curlin Florida Derby (G1) on April 1 at Gulfstream Park, where he defeated next out Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mage by one length. The effort came one month after defeating Mage in the Fountain of Youth (G2) over the same track. Such credentials made Forte the Kentucky Derby favorite, but he was scratched the morning of the race with a bruised foot.
Pletcher expressed satisfaction in the son of Violence's effort, especially considering the time in between races.
“That was a key part of the race,” Pletcher said of Forte's trip around the far turn. “He lost a little bit of position around the three-eighths pole and had to swing out five to six wide around the same time the winner [Arcangelo] cut the corner. That was sort of the difference there, but all things considered, first time out in ten weeks going a mile and a half. It was a big effort. I think Forte's body of work is impressive. He beat the Kentucky Derby winner in the Fountain of Youth and the Florida Derby. He came with a big effort despite not having an ideal schedule leading into it.”
Whisper Hill Farm and Gainesway Stable's Tapit Trice was five to six wide down the backstretch and launched his bid around the far turn under coaxing from Luis Saez. He made up some ground in the final furlong, but could not catch Arcangelo while being nosed out of place honors by Forte to his outside.
“We wanted to get him into the clear and get him under that rhythm,” Pletcher said. “I thought going into the far turn that he had a big chance. He stayed on and kept on fighting until the end. It seemed like he was emboldened a little bit when Forte came up outside of him. It was a good effort, he just didn't quite get there.”
Pletcher continued to speak volumes of Forte for overcoming the adversity of contesting an endurance-testing race like the Belmont Stakes off 10 week's rest.
“Sometimes when you get off schedule like we did, it's not always easy to get back on,” Pletcher said. “Thankfully, we were able to get this race and, hopefully, set him up for the rest of the year.”
Pletcher also conditioned Forte's sire, Violence, whose promising racing career was cut short when injured following a second-place effort in the 2013 Fountain of Youth.
“Physically they're very similar horses,” Pletcher said. “He's clearly a son of Violence when you look at him. Both are very talented and good-minded horses. Violence was unfortunately injured in the Fountain of Youth and I feel like his full potential was never seen. He's turned out to be a terrific stallion now.”
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