2023-05-01 22:09:19
Kentucky Derby points leader Forte clocked 49.80 seconds over four furlongs in final major practice for several Derby contenders Saturday morning at Churchill Downs.
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The bay colt with 190 qualifying points and six wins, including the Florida Derby in seven career starts, was among four horses trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher to pull ahead of Derby 149 on May 6. With jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. on board, Forte ran tandem out of Bright Future and went down the frontstretch before galloping hard down the backstretch in 1:02.3.
His stablemate Tapit Trice, who won the Blue Grass earlier this month at Keeneland and has 150 points, also clocked 48.2 over the same distance and started a canter in 1:02.3. Kingsbarns (100) ran in tandem out of the Derby-eligible Major Dude, each clocking 48.40 over four furlongs.
Arkansas Derby winner Angel of Empire (154), leading four Derby entrants trained by Louisville native Brad Cox, he clocked 1:01.4 over five furlongs running off Jace’s Road (45), his stablemate, who ran 1:01.2. hit show ran five furlongs in 59.60 out of Tapit’s Conquest, while Verifying clocked 59.40 alongside Ever So Mischievous in pre-dawn training.
The subsequent draw for the Derby and Oaks for fillies with morning line odds is Monday.
AP
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