Forte Runs Down Mage in Florida Derby Thriller

Last year's juvenile champion Forte  turned what seemed like an apparent defeat into a dramatic one-length victory in the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) April 1 at Gulfstream Park.

Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's son of Violence   overcame a challenging post position and used a five-wide move leaving the far turn before catching and passing OGMA Investments, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing and CMNWLTH's Mage in the late stretch.

The victorious dark bay/brown colt won his fifth straight race and sixth of seven overall to strengthen his status as the leading contender for this year's Kentucky Derby (G1) May 6 at Churchill Downs.

"I thought, in the end, it was spectacular," trainer Todd Pletcher said. "Worried when the draw came out and post 11. We know statistically (that's) a really big disadvantage going 1 1/8 mile here at Gulfstream.

"To me, what was the most impressive was the last hundred yards. He came by me at the eighth pole and he looked beaten."

Forte's victory increased Pletcher's record number of Florida Derby wins to seven and gave jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. his sixth triumph on the afternoon.

"We had the best athlete in the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing: Irad Ortiz Jr.," co-owner Vinnie Viola of St. Elias Stable said. "He manufactured four-to-six lengths out of the horse."

From his post toward the outside in the 12-horse field of 3-year-olds, Forte was immediately angled inward by Ortiz with a quickly approaching first turn.

The colt settled in ninth as Southern California shipper Fort Bragg , from post No. 10 under rider Joel Rosario, ran to the lead and set fractions of :23.57, :46.71, and 1:10.63. C2 Racing Stable's Mr. Peeks  and Edwin Gonzalez sat a length and a half behind in second.

"Going to the quarter pole, (Forte) gave me a good feeling," Ortiz said of Forte. "He grabbed the bit and the outside horse moved and he gave me a good feeling and he's ready to roll."

Ortiz guided Forte to the far outside coming out of the far turn. He still needed to catch Mage  and Cyclone Mischief  down the lane, looking all but set for a third-place finish until a rousing late rally in the final yards enabled him to prevail.

Forte, the 1-5 favorite, posted a winning time of 1:48.51 for 1 1/8 miles on a fast main track. He paid $2.60 in beating the largest Florida Derby field since Big Brown defeated 11 rivals in 2008 from post 12.

Mage and jockey Luis Saez finished second, two lengths ahead of Albaugh Family and Castleton Lyons' Cyclone Mischief with Javier Castellano aboard.

"(Mage) might have gotten tired but remember, it's still his third race," trainer Gustavo Delgado Jr. said. "How many races did it take Forte to get to the level he is?"

The Florida Derby has been the most productive prep in Kentucky Derby history, producing 24 winners of the Run for the Roses, and offers qualifying points toward the Kentucky Derby on a 100-40-30-20-10 scale to its top-five finishers.

"I think it's on to Churchill," said trainer Dale Romans, whose Cyclone Mischief now has 45 points. "I thought today he looked like he handled (the distance) fine. The pace scenario might be a little different going (1 1/4 miles). It might even be better for him."

All going well, Forte certainly will join the Run for the Roses lineup. He had prepped for the Florida Derby with a 4 1/2-length triumph in the March 4 Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream.

"I didn't mind running the 11 post (because) they're going to run 20 in the (Kentucky) Derby," co-owner Mike Repole said, "so, I thought he gets an incredible education."

"He just continues to amaze us. He gets better and better," Pletcher said. "He handled the stretch out to a mile and an eighth and actually probably ran a mile and three-sixteenths today. It gives you a lot of confidence going forward."

Pletcher's previous Florida Derby winners were Scat Daddy , (2007), Constitution   (2014), Materiality  (2015), Always Dreaming   (2017), Audible   (2018) and Known Agenda   (2021).

Forte, out of Blame   mare Queen Caroline , was bred by Amy Moore's South Gate Farm in Kentucky. The dam has one other foal, a 2-year-old by Uncle Mo  .

"I'm speechless," South Gate Farm's Amy Moore said. "I'm terrifically proud of him and proud of his mother. It's a great feeling. I can't believe that my first foal has turned out this way. I don't know where I go from here, but it sure feels good right now."