Forte a late scratch from Kentucky Derby 2023: Updated post positions, odds, analysis
On the 50th anniversary of Secretariat’s stirring Triple Crown season, beginning with a victory at the Kentucky Derby, the field will once again load into the starting gate on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs, all 20 starters taking a shot at racing immortality.
Is there an all-time great among them?
It looked like Forte had a chance as the morning line favorite, a year after 80-1 Rich Strike hit the wire first. But Forte was scratched Saturday morning after galloping on the track, meaning the 149th renewal is a wide-open affair.
Post time is set for 6:57 p.m Saturday., with the race televised on NBC.
More: Betting guide to Kentucky Derby 2023 with expert predictions, past performances, analysis
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Here's a look at the complete lineup of post positions and updated odds from Saturday morning for the 2023 Kentucky Derby:
1. Hit Show 25-1
Trainer: Brad Cox; Jockey: Manny Franco.
The last runner to take the New York route to the Derby and win it was Funny Cide in 2003, with Hit Show having won the Grade 3 Withers on Feb. 11 before losing to longshot Lord Miles by nose in the Wood Memorial.
2. Verifying 15-1
Trainer: Brad Cox; Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione.
Put in a game effort in trying to hold off Tapit Trice in a stretch duel, finishing second, beaten a neck, in the Blue Grass Stakes, with the winner surviving an objection by Gaffalione. Credited with a 97 Beyer in an allowance win at Oaklawn to open the year.
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3. Two Phil’s 8-1
Trainer: Larry Rivelli; Jockey: Jareth Loveberry.
The 101 Beyer in winning the Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park on March 25 makes you take notice, although the last horse to win that race and come back to win the Kentucky Derby was Animal Kingdom. Loveberry, a 35-year-old journeyman, will be making his first Derby start.
4. Confidence Game 17-1
Trainer: Keith Desormeaux; Jockey: James Graham.
Has not run since winning the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn back on Feb. 28, but has trained brilliantly at Churchill Downs in recent weeks, including a 59.0-second clocking for five furlongs, a 1:38.2 mile out of the gate.
5. Tapit Trice 9/2
Trainer: Todd Pletcher; Jockey: Luis Saez.
Winner of four straight, including the Tampa Bay Derby, rallied wide to get up to win the Blue Grass Stakes, beating Verifying by a neck. Another in a group of closers expected to make late runs, with Tapit having sired three Belmont winners, but no Derby winners.
6. Kingsbarns 10-1
Trainer: Todd Pletcher; Jockey: Jose Ortiz.
One of the more intriguing entrants, this son of Uncle Mo, sire of 2016 Derby winner Nyquist, is unbeaten in three starts, including an impressive front-running win over a strong field in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby, picking up a career-best 95 Beyer. Could try to wire the field.
7. Reincarnate 12-1
Trainer: Tim Yakteen; Jockey: John Velazquez.
Finished third in the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes and Grade 1 Arkansas Derby in last two starts, and has hit the board in three straight graded stakes, including a victory in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita on Jan. 8
8. Mage 17-1
Trainer: Gustavo Delgado; Jockey: Javier Castellano.
A lightly-raced colt that is improving, finishing second in the Florida Derby, credited with a 94 Beyer in finishing a length behind Forte, after breaking last in the field of 12. Has improved in each of his three career starts.
9. Skinner (scratched)
Trainer: John Shirreffs; Jockey: Juan Hernandez.
Drew into the field after Wild On Ice suffered a training injury and had to be euthanized last week. Show finishes in the Santa Anita Derby and San Felipe Stakes put Skinner in position, closing fast in both, beaten just a half-length in the Santa Anita Derby.
10. Pratical Move (scratched)
11. Disarm 24-1
Trainer: Steve Asmussen; Jockey: Joel Rosario.
Earned six key Derby points in finishing third in the Lexington Stakes on April 15, the final qualifying race, after grabbing 40 points with a runner-up finish in the Louisiana Derby, rallying but still finishing 3 1/2 lengths behind Kingsbarns.
12. Jace’s Road 31-1
Trainer: Brad Cox; Jockey: Florent Geroux.
Spot in the starting gate was not secured until Blazing Sevens pulled out last week, giving Brad Cox four runners in the Derby. Placed third in the Louisiana Derby, five lengths behind winner Kingsbarns.
13. Sun Thunder 29-1
Trainer: Ken McPeek; Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.
Hasn’t won outside the maiden ranks, but secured a spot in the field by running consistently in a trio of Derby preps, landing the invitation by virtue of a fourth-place finish at 13-1 in the Blue Grass Stakes.
14. Angel of Empire 9/2
Trainer: Brad Cox; Jockey: Flavien Prat.
The 10-furlong distance figures to help after an impressive 4 1/2-lenth win in Arkansas Derby, moving on the outside and rolling past the field after rallying win the Risen Star on Feb. 18.
15. Forte 3-1 (scratched)
Trainer: Todd Pletcher; Jockey: Irad Ortiz.
No other entrant has four Grade 1 wins and has hit the wire first in five straight, including a big rally to win the Florida Derby. Does not have a Beyer Speed Figure over 98, picking up a 95 in the Florida Derby.
16 Raise Cain 30-1
Trainer: Ben Colebrook; Jockey: Gerardo Corrales.
Came from far back to win the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes on March 4, but was unable to rally from 10th in the Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes, finishing fifth, beaten 6 1/2 lengths by Tapit Trice. His late running style could make him a factor at 10 furlongs.
17. Derma Sotogake 8-1
Trainer: Hidetaka Otonashi; Jockey: Christophe Lemaire.
It's difficult to know how a win in the UAE Derby on March 25 in Dubai will translate here, winning by 5 1/2 length win at 1-1/16 mile, with horses from Japan taking the top four spots. Lemaire rode last year’s UAE Derby winner, Crown Pride to a 13th place finish in the Derby.
18. Rocket Can 27-1
Trainer: Bill Mott; Jockey: Junior Alvarado.
Mott’s only Derby win came with Country House in 2019 after Maximum Security was disqualified for interference. Likes to stalk the pace and would benefit from some quick early fractions, coming in off a fourth in the Arkansas Derby, having won the Holy Bull at Gulfstream on Feb. 4.
19. Lord Miles (scratched)
20. Continuar (scratched)
Trainer: Yoshito Yahagi; Jockey: Ryusei Sakai.
A third behind Derma Sotogake in the UAE Derby, Continuar is the winner of the “Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby.” In a workout last week, Derma Sotogake appeared to get the better of Continuar.
21. Cyclone Mischief 29-1
Trainer: Dale Romans; Jockey: Irad Ortiz.
Cyclone Mischief was an also-eligible who moved into the race after a scratch, coming off third place finishes in both the Florida Derby and Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream.
22. Mandarin Hero 20-1
Trainer: Terunobu Fujita; Jockey: Kazushi Kimura.
Mandarin Hero was an also-eligible who moved into the race after a scratch. Ran second in the Santa Anita Derby in first race outside Japan, picking up a 100 Beyer Speed Figure in losing by a nose to Practical Move.
23. King Russell 30-1
Trainer: Ron Moquett; Jockey: Rafael Bejarano.
King Russell was an also-eligible who moved into the race after a scratch. Finished second in the Arkansas Derby at 58-1 in first race outside maiden ranks.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Forte scratched: Kentucky Derby 2023 revised post positions, analysis
