Forte Leaves No Doubt As Champion; Early Kentucky Derby Favorite

Forte was the nation's best 2-year-old thoroughbred in 2022, and the colt came to the Kentucky Derby for the opportunity to show he was the best 3-year-old in 2023. But the Florida Derby winner didn't get the chance. Scratched on the day of the Kentucky Derby because of a bruised hoof, Forte also missed the Preakness Stakes. But the colt will be…

The third leg of the Triple Crown has arrived, and we have Belmont Stakes 2023 odds, picks and pole positions to share, including our predictions and best bets. National Treasurewill look to defend his Preakness Stakes crown, and the favorite Forte will try and pull out a big victory after scratching from the Kentucky Derby. However, surprisingly,…

It looks like Saturday's Belmont Stakes in New York, the third leg of horse racing's Triple Crown, will go on as scheduled if the air quality from the Canadian wildfires subsides enough to cooperate. Belmont Park canceled its Thursday card, the beginning of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, because of the unhealthy air quality conditions, but New…

The third jewel of the Triple Crown will be run this Saturday at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. A field of nine has been entered in the Belmont, headed by morning-line favorite Forte and Preakness winner National Treasure. Kentucky Derby winner Mage was not entered. Forte was also the Kentucky Derby morning line favorite but was scratched by…

The colt that won the 2023 Kentucky Derby isn't in the field for Saturday's Belmont Stakes. But the colt that was supposed to win is. After winning the Run for the Roses on May 6, Mage finished third in the Preakness Stakes on May 20 and won't complete the Triple Crown trail when the Belmont Stakes is contested for the 155th time on Saturday. But…

The race card at Gulfstream Park this Saturday is loaded with eight graded events, including the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth. The prize purse for this race is $400000, and it covers 1 1/16 miles on dirt. The Fountain of Youth Stakes is open to three-year old thoroughbred as part of the Kentucky Derby Trail. There are 10 entries in this race, and my…

This is trainer Bob Baffert's really fun time of the year, running his stable full of talented 3-year-olds and learning which ones are ready for the big time and which are maybe a cut below. Cave Rock, Arabian Knight and Faustin might be at the head of the class right now, but Baffert unveiled three others Sunday at Santa Anita that he hopes could…

When you're hot, you're hot. And reigning Eclipse Award jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. is definitely hot. Three Breeders' Cup wins at Keeneland were capped by three wins Sunday at Aqueduct including two stakes, plus he established a new single-year North American record for earnings by a jockey. Ortiz, Jr. was voted Jockey of the Week for Oct. 31 through…

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The 39th annual Breeders' Cup World Championships kicked off at Keeneland Race Course on a beautiful autumn day in the Bluegrass. Forte inserted himself as the early Derby favorite via his come-from-behind win in the Juvenile for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. The son of Violence, ridden by Eclipse Award-winning jockey Irad…

Washington (AFP) - Forte outraced favored Cave Rock down the stretch for a 1 1/2-length upset victory Friday in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile to become the early 2023 Kentucky Derby favorite. Todd Pletcher-trained Forte charged late and Cave Rock, weakened by an early challenge from 30-1 longshot Hurricane J, won the 1 1/16th-mile race in…

Cave Rock was touted as one of the most likely winners on Breeders' Cup weekend, and indeed, the dual Grade 1-winning 2-year-old colt went off at odds of 2-5 in Friday's $2 million Juvenile. On the track, however, it was Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's Forte who was able to make a big move late and run down the favorite for a 1 1/2-length…

Twelve years after Uncle Mo, there was cause for celebration again with the face of a new equine racing generation representing the old New York guard of Mike Repole and Todd Pletcher. His name is Forte. Yes, it is pronounced "for-tay," the Italian word for force. And this 2-year-old colt gave co-owner Repole and trainer Pletcher their long-awaited…

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Bob Baffert knows a thing or two about getting 2-year-old racehorses to perform at an elite level on the biggest stages. The Hall of Fame trainer has conditioned six Eclipse Award winners for Champion 2-Year-Old Male and a record-tying five winners of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Baffert appears primed to add to both of those…

Ray Acevedo-USA TODAY Sports Breeders' Cup Juvenile offers a first look at potential runners for the Kentucky Derby 2023 Bob Baffert's Cave Rock looks like a solid favorite in the betting The Breeders' Cup is nearly upon us, as the world's very best racehorses descend on Keeneland for two days of high-quality Grade 1 action. The competitive races…

Greatness appeared to have been center stage in Saturday's $300000 American Pharoah Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita, as Bob Baffert's Cave Rock, in his first attempt at two turns, unleashed a powerful front-running performance, winning by 5 ¼ lengths while getting 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.05-three seconds faster than the winner of the Chandelier Stakes (G2)…

Greatness appeared to have been center stage in Saturday's Grade I, $300000 American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita, as Bob Baffert's Cave Rock, in his first attempt at two turns, unleashed a powerful front-running performance under Juan Hernandez, winning by 5 ¼ lengths while getting a mile and one sixteenth in 1:43.05-three seconds faster than the…

Jockey Ryan Moore rides Meditate to victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, giving Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien his first win in the race / ©GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP Forte outraced favored Cave Rock down the stretch for a 1 1/2-length upset victory Friday in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile to become the early 2023 Kentucky Derby…

ELMONT, N.Y - It's only fitting that history was made a half-century after Secretariat's record-setting Belmont Stakes performance secured the Triple Crown. Because mixed in with the roar of the Belmont Park crowd early Saturday evening was the sound of horse racing's glass ceiling shattering. When Arcangelo slipped through on the rail and overtook…