Pletcher says Forte is making progress toward Breeders’ Cup

Trainer Todd Pletcher said Eclipse Award winner Forte, whohas had a star-crossed year with injuries, is continuing to make progress inhis race against the clock to be ready in four weeks for the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita.

“He galloped well this morning,” Pletcher said Fridayafternoon in the Keeneland winner’s circle after Candied won the Grade 1 Alcibiades.“I think we finally got this quarter crack behind us.”

Daily Racing Form’s David Grening reported lastweekend that the four-time Grade 1 winner had a patch applied by farrier IanMcKinlay to his left front foot. After he finished fourth as the 8-5 favoritein the Travers (G1) on Aug. 26, the 3-year-old Violence colt was shipped toChurchill Downs, where his name has been conspicuously missing from the worktab.

“A little more galloping,” Pletcher said Friday, “then we’lllook at a possible breeze.”

If he puts in a timed work sometime in the next week, Fortestill would have time to get in the three breezes Pletcher told DRF thathe wanted before the Breeders’ Cup.

The 2022 male juvenile champion, Forte began 2023 with winsin the Fountain of Youth (G2) and Florida Derby (G1). He was the futures andmorning-line favorite for the Kentucky Derby only to be a race-day scratchbecause of a bruised, right front foot.

Forte got back on the track the following month, finishing adeep-closing second to Arcangelo in the Belmont Stakes. He won by a noseagainst four rivals in the Jim Dandy (G2) on July 29 at Saratoga before theoff-the-board result in the Travers.

Bought as a yearling for $110,000 by Mike Repole and Vinnie Viola,Forte is 10: 7-1-0 with earnings of $3,029,830.