Kentucky Derby Misfortune Links A. P. Indy, Forte

As much as the 155th Belmont Stakes (G1) serves as the 50th anniversary of Secretariat's Triple Crown sweep, it is also the 31st anniversary of an edition that bears some striking similarities to the June 10 race at Belmont Park.

It was back in 1992 that A.P. Indy was the second choice for the Kentucky Derby (G1) but was scratched the morning of the race by trainer Neil Drysdale due to a foot problem.

Five weeks later, the $2.9 million Keeneland Yearling Sale buy won the Belmont en route to ultimately taking the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) and becoming Horse of the Year, the champion 3-year-old, and a Hall of Famer. Oh, and a champion stallion as well.

Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's Forte  went through the same type of experience on the first Saturday in May. The son of Violence   was the favorite for the Kentucky Derby, but was also scratched on the morning of the opening leg of the Triple Crown after a foot ailment was detected.

On Saturday, he, like A. P. Indy, will try to add a classic win before the curtain comes down on the Triple Crown.

But there is a difference between the two in terms of conditioning.

A. P. Indy prepped for the Belmont by winning the Peter Pan Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park two weeks before the 1 1/2-mile Test of the Champion.

In Forte's case, since he was scratched by a regulatory veterinarian, the 3-year-old was placed on the vet's list and could not race for at least 14 days. That ruled out the possibility of running in the Peter Pan, which has been moved to the week after the Derby, or even the Preakness Stakes (G1), two weeks after the Run for the Roses.

As a result, Forte will run in the 12-furlong Belmont without the benefit of a race since his victory in the April 1 Florida Derby (G1).

"If he didn't run in the Peter Pan, It would have been a long time without a race," Drysdale said about A.P. Indy, "but all horses are different. Some train differently than others."

Todd Pletcher, who trains Forte, said despite the foot problem, Forte has been cleared to race. 

"It's been 10 weeks since he's run, but he was ready to run in the Kentucky Derby and we missed a little bit of training, but not much," he said. "I'm pretty confident his fitness is very good."

One other similarity between A.P. Indy and Forte is that a horse each had beaten turned in a strong effort in the Kentucky Derby. Casual Lies, who was third behind A. P. Indy in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), was second in the Run for the Roses, while Mage , who finished behind Forte in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) and the Florida Derby, won the opening leg of the Triple Crown.

"At least the Derby put a stamp on A.P. Indy's form when Casual Lies finished second," Drysdale said.

In the end, there's no doubt that Forte's connections are hopeful that they can savor the same type of all's well that ends well satisfaction as A.P. Indy.

"There was such relief after he won the Belmont because we knew the horse was a superb horse," Drysdale said. "It wasn't really vindication. We were just so happy that he could show everyone that he was a proper race horse."