Pletcher Will Add Blinkers to Forte in Jim Dandy

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Pletcher Will Add Blinkers to Forte in Jim Dandy
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Photo: Skip Dickstein
Forte breezes four furlongs July 22 at Saratoga Race Course

When Forte  steps on the track for the $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) on July 29 at Saratoga Race Course, you might not recognize him. For the first time in his career, the son of Violence  , who is owned by Repole Stable and St Elias Stable, will wear blinkers.

On July 22, Forte had his final Jim Dandy work, going four furlongs in :50 on the main track with regular rider Irad Ortiz Jr. up. He breezed with stablemate Emmanuel , a 4-year-old grass specialist who won the Poker Stakes (G3T) at Belmont Park in his last start on Belmont Stakes Day.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said this was the first time Forte has ever worked with blinkers.

"I think we are going to make an equipment change and put blinkers on for the race," Pletcher said back at his barn near the Oklahoma Training Track. "We feel like he lost focus a little bit in the Florida Derby (G1) in the middle of the final turn and it might have cost him the Belmont."

Forte won the Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park April 1 over eventual Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mage  with a tremendous rally in the stretch. He finished second in the Belmont Stakes (G1), defeated by Arcangelo  by a length and a half, after losing position on the final turn before another strong late surge in the stretch.

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"We want to get him locked in," Pletcher said about the blinkers.

"He is a champion 2-year-old (male of 2022) and still the leader of the division," co-owner Mike Repole said via text message. "We will try (blinkers) in the Jim Dandy and we'll go from there."

Pletcher had no complaints with Forte's last breeze before the Jim Dandy, which will be his first start since the Belmont Stakes. Forte has won six of eight starts and has two wins and a second in three starts this year.

The easy work Saturday was the 63rd fastest of 112 at the distance.

He was the morning-line favorite in the Kentucky Derby (G1) but was scratched the day of the race due to a regulator veterinarian's concerns over a mending bruised right front foot.