Forte's Partners Enjoy Family-Like Connection

Co-owner Mike Repole watches from the rail as Forte  delivers an energetic hop to start his morning exercise May 2 at Churchill Downs, his tail and mane seemingly electrified by the split-second motion that for an instant defines power and speed as he prepares for the Kentucky Derby (G1).

"He's feeling good," Repole says to all those gathered along the rail before, with a chuckle, revealing the message sent by the horse's action straight to his heart. "I think he sees me. He knows I'm here today."

Two nights before that morning scene, Forte's other owner, Vincent Viola, watches the hockey team he owns, the Florida Panthers, complete a series rally against the Boston Bruins in the NHL playoffs. The Bruins entered the playoffs off the greatest NHL regular season in history—65 wins—and had led the series 3 games to 1 before the Panthers won the final three games capped by a 4-3 overtime win.

"It does not get any better than this for a sportsperson," Viola said. "The thrill of competition keeps the adrenaline flowing and the heart and spirit young. In some respects, the experiences are different as the NHL playoffs consist of up to four series over a couple of months while the Kentucky Derby is a single race. However, the excitement is equal for both."

YES THINGS ARE GOING QUITE WELL for Repole and Viola as their champion 2-year-old male of 2022 enters the Kentucky Derby off wins in both of his 3-year-old starts, including a heart-pounding stretch rally to take the Florida Derby (G1) for trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. These rewards follow Repole and Viola (Viola's wife Teresa also is very active in owning their horses under the St. Elias Stable banner) displaying their confidence in the sport during some uncertain years during COVID-19 by actively buying young horses.

"With all the uncertainty that COVID presented, not only for the sport but for many aspects of life, Teresa and I felt it was important to reaffirm our belief in the sport and its future by continuing to buy horses," Viola said. "We were not alone in that belief and many others stepped up as well. While it is rewarding to see some horses that we purchased at that time enjoy some success, the most rewarding aspects from that time are seeing the sales continue to thrive and horse racing continue to position itself for a long-term bright future."

With that investment made, Repole and Viola will aim to add to the success they've enjoyed in the sport together, individually, and with other partners.

Last year in partnerships Repole not only campaigned Forte, he also sent out a classic winner in Belmont Stakes (G1) victor Mo Donegal   and champion 3-year-old filly Nest , who earned a classic placing against males when she ran second in that Belmont. Mo Donegal is a son of the horse Repole may be most associated with—to date—Uncle Mo  , who earned champion 2-year-old male honors in 2010 and has gone on to a highly successful stallion career at Ashford Stud near Versailles, Ky. (Uncle Mo will have Kingsbarns  in this year's Derby.)

Repole, who for years has competed at every level of the sport, is still looking for his first Kentucky Derby victory and the disappointment of an ill-timed illness keeping Uncle Mo from getting his shot at the classics is never far from his mind this time of year.

For the Violas, initially introduced to the sport through West Point Thoroughbreds partnerships, the success stories include 2015 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner Liam's Map  , who has gone on to be a successful stallion. Two years later the Violas reached racing's heights as Always Dreaming   won the Kentucky Derby. The Violas and Anthony and Mary Ellen Bonomo were the majority owners in the partnership behind Always Dreaming, which also included West Point Thoroughbreds and Siena Farm.Together as partners, Repole and the Violas captured the 2019 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) with Vino Rosso  . They continue to enjoy racing horses together.

"When you win with Vinnie and Teresa, it feels super," said Repole, a founder of the company that launched vitaminwater and later launched sports drink Bodyarmor. "I've been in a lot of partnerships and I love the people I own horses with or I wouldn't own horses with them. But there's a difference between owning a horse with a good partner and owning one with a family member. Vinnie and Teresa are family to me. It's fun to be with them."

"Mike, his family and my family and I enjoy a special relationship and friendship that transcends the horses we race together," said Viola, the former chairman of the New York Mercantile Exchange. "Our partnership is built on a feeling of family, mutual respect, and love of the sport. We each have our respective teams who are extremely talented and work very hard and coordinate closely. As hard as we work at it, we know that there are other owners and teams that work equally hard and are incredibly talented. We have been blessed with some racing luck the last few years."

On Saturday Forte will race in the St. Elias Stable silks but it will be one family of connections behind the son of Violence  , who they purchased for $110,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale from the consignment of Eaton Sales.

"Forte will be wearing Vinnie's silks in the Derby, unless they make a mistake and I have my fingers crossed," Repole said with a laugh. "But when a horse is in Vinnie's silks it feels different than seeing a horse in another partner's silks. It's like seeing our silks. Blue, orange, (Repole's colors) and green (Viola's colors) are my favorite colors so when I see one of our horses with Vinnie's silks, it's a great sight and it all works out great. It's our horse, not mine or his."

Bob Ehalt contributed to this story.