Forte, Instant Coffee Remain 1-2 in Derby Dozen

1. Forte  

Owner/Trainer: Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable/Todd Pletcher

Pedigree: Violence  —Queen Caroline , by Blame   

Breeder: South Gate Farm (KY)

The early Kentucky Derby (G1) favorite resumed breezing following his victory in the March 4 Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) with a four-furlong move March 17 at Palm Beach Downs in South Florida. Spotting workmate Crupi  two lengths to begin under regular rider Irad Ortiz Jr., Forte finished just in front of his workmate at the finish and over the gallop-out while under less urging. He appears to have exited the Fountain of Youth in top condition, pointed toward a return start at Gulfstream Park in the April 1 Florida Derby (G1), a race Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher has won a record six times. 

Work of the Day from #PalmBeachDowns—Forte (Outside), 50.72, and Crupi, 51.07, worked 4 Furlongs on March 17th, 2023, for trainer @PletcherRacing. pic.twitter.com/qWzb5PttAg

— XBTV (@WatchXBTV) March 17, 2023

Watch: Forte, Practical Move Sharp in Recent Workouts

2. Instant Coffee   

Gold Square/Brad Cox

Bolt d'Oro  —Follow No One , by Uncle Mo   

Sagamore Farm (KY)

Eager to see him in action in the March 25 Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots after a couple of months without racing. Having amassed 32 qualifying points for the Derby from his efforts last year and in winning the Jan. 21 Lecomte Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds, trainer Brad Cox elected to skip the Feb. 18 Risen Star Stakes (G2), leaving this colt fresh for the Louisiana Derby and with something left for the Triple Crown. The Lecomte has been a productive race, with third-place Confidence Game  winning the Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park and fourth-place Denington  taking an allowance optional claimer at Fair Grounds. Two other participants returned with thirds, including Two Phil's  in the Risen Star.

3. Tapit Trice  

Whisper Hill Farm and Gainesway Stable/Todd Pletcher

Tapit  —Danzatrice , by Dunkirk  

Gainesway Thoroughbreds (KY)

If he follows the same post-race workout schedule as Forte for Pletcher, he will likely resume breezing this weekend at Palm Beach Downs, two weeks after his victory in the March 11 Tampa Bay Derby (G3). The April 8 Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland is next, where he could face National Treasure  and other top Derby hopefuls. He will need a complete performance there to secure victory against a field more robust than the group he just defeated. He broke slowly and recovered after climbing early behind kickback in the Tampa Bay Derby, rolling late to win by two lengths but over no other Derby Dozen-ranked horses.

4. Practical Move  

Leslie Amestoy, Pierre Jean Amestoy Jr., and Roger Beasley/Tim Yakteen

Practical Joke  —Ack Naughty , by Afleet Alex  

Chad Brown and Head of Plains Partners (KY)

The San Felipe Stakes (G2) and Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) winner turned in a sharp solo drill March 18 at Santa Anita Park in :47 3/5. His rider kept him under a snug hold while glancing down at his stopwatch down the stretch. Expect more demanding drills as Practical Move nears the April 8 Santa Anita Derby (G1), one of the more successful Derby preps of recent years, with four winners since 2012. Zedan Racing Stables' Medina Spirit, trained by Bob Baffert, would have made a fifth in 2021 but was ultimately disqualified for a medication positive, a ruling under appeal.

Work of the Day from @santaanitapark—Practical Move worked 4 Furlongs in 47.60 on March 18th, 2023, for trainer @timyakteen. pic.twitter.com/HCbYx32TCS

— XBTV (@WatchXBTV) March 18, 2023

5. Reincarnate  

SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan/Tim Yakteen

Good Magic  —Allanah , by Scat Daddy 

Woods Edge Farm (KY)

The Rebel Stakes (G2) third-place finisher worked a swift six furlongs this past Saturday in 1:12 2/5 for trainer Tim Yakteen, though he came under mild pressure from his rider. Working with the Baffert-trained Murray , and with the pair coming inside another horse breezing a shorter distance, Reincarnate needed a few slaps on his left shoulder to maintain his pace and an edge over Murray. So he dips a spot from third to fourth in the rankings. Never off the board in six starts and winner of the Sham Stakes (G3) this year, he gained seasoning in the Rebel when he was off sluggishly and had his rally impeded down the stretch when sandwiched. Arkansas Derby (G1) is the next target.

6. Geaux Rocket Ride 

Pin Oak Stud/Richard Mandella

Candy Ride  —Beyond Grace , by Uncle Mo 

OXO Equine (KY)

A rematch with Practical Move is on deck in the Santa Anita Derby. Though he lost to him in the San Felipe, this colt did the dirty work by pressing early leader Hejazi . He also had a wider trip than the ground-saving Practical Move, despite Geaux Rocket Ride being the speedier of the two early. This lightly raced colt should benefit from experience. The San Felipe was just his second outing and was his first start in a stakes and around two turns. He responded well from the race by working on Saturday, covering a half-mile in an easy :49 1/5 at Santa Anita for Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella.

7. Verifying   

Jonathan Poulin, Westerberg, Susan Magnier, Derrick Smith, and Michael Tabor/Brad Cox

Justify  —Diva Delite , by Repent  

Hunter Valley & Mountmellick Farm (KY)

Due to a troubled trip in the Rebel in which he was shuffled back on the second turn and in early stretch when in traffic, he did not get to run to his potential when fourth, beaten 5 1/4 lengths by Confidence Game. In winning an allowance optional claiming race at Oaklawn earlier in the year, he scored by pressing the pace in the clear and pulling away, the kind of trip that his connections would love to see from him in his final Derby prep next month. With only 14 points, he likely needs a top-three finish next out to secure the customary qualifying points to make the Derby.

8. National Treasure 

SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan/Tim Yakteen

Quality Road  —Treasure , by Medaglia d'Oro   

Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds (KY)

Scratched from the San Felipe with a sore foot, he bounced back quickly, recording a pair of works, six furlongs in 1:11 4/5 at Santa Anita March 14, followed by a five-furlong breeze in 1:00 just five days later. The Yakteen trainee is pointed for the Blue Grass, Daily Racing Form reported, where a showdown with Tapit Trice and other top Derby hopefuls looms. He likely needs to run first or second to have sufficient Derby points. Though he has placed in three graded stakes, including two grade 1s, he has no existing Derby points due to being trained through late February by Baffert, who remains barred from participation this year by Churchill Downs Inc. 

9. Confidence Game  

Don't Tell My Wife Stables/Keith Desormeaux

Candy Ride—Eblouissante , by Bernardini 

Summer Wind Equine (KY)

This 3-year-old needed more recovery time following the Feb. 25 Rebel than other starts, not working until Saturday, when he breezed a half-mile in :50 at Fair Grounds for trainer Keith Desormeaux. With 57 qualifying points toward the Derby, he does not need to start again before the Derby, though he could should he give Desormeaux the appropriate signals. Third on a fast track in the Lecomte when close to a hot pace, he relished the sloppy conditions in the Rebel at Oaklawn, benefited from a patient ride, and took advantage of Reincarnate and Verifying encountering traffic.

10. Rocket Can 

Frank Fletcher Racing Operations/Bill Mott

Into Mischief  —Tension , by Tapit 

Woodford Thoroughbreds (KY)

This South Florida-based runner, winner of the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) and runner-up in Fountain of Youth, will likely head to the Arkansas Derby. His owner, Frank Fletcher, is an Arkansas resident, and though he runs horses across the country, a home game for him has its appeal. By leaving Florida, Rocket Can further avoids Forte, the division leader. First or second in four consecutive routes, he showed determination to be runner-up in the Fountain of Youth, though he was no match for Forte. 

11. Angel of Empire  

Albaugh Family Stables/Brad Cox

Classic Empire  —Armony's Angel , by To Honor and Serve 

Forgotten Land Investment and Black Diamond Equine (PA)

Cox likes to space out the starts from his horses on the Derby trail, as reflected by Instant Coffee's skipping the Risen Star and this colt's bypassing the Louisiana Derby. The Arkansas Derby now appears to be the target, though Cox could juggle his lineup and point for one of the other key preps early next month. Either way, Angel of Empire figures to race 1 1/8 miles, a trip over which he won the Feb. 18 Risen Star Stakes (G2) last month, albeit in slow time. He ran well in a prior start at Oaklawn when second in the Smarty Jones to loose-on-the-lead stablemate Victory Formation .

12. Red Route One 

Winchell Thoroughbreds/Steve Asmussen

Gun Runner  —Red House , by Tapit 

Winchell Thoroughbreds (KY)

The Rebel's fast pace and race flow worked in his favor, so he is placed toward the bottom in the Derby Dozen rankings behind three participants from that race, though he was second in the Rebel. This colt had a pretty smooth trip, finishing with a flourish when angled to the outside. Typical of many deep closers, he often settles for minor awards, including when second in the Southwest. He runs next at Oaklawn in the Arkansas Derby. He looks like a horse that will appreciate 1 1/4 miles in the Derby, though he will need racing luck to come from the clouds.