Forte finds another gear, rallies to win the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park

Forte firmed up his reputation as the nation’s leading contender for the Kentucky Derby on Saturday with a one-length victory in the $1 million Florida Derby — his final race before the Run for the Roses on May 6.

“He’s a champion,” said winning rider Irad Ortiz Jr. “He deserves all the credit.”

Bettors sent Forte off at prohibitive odds of 1-5, so much did the colt stand out against the rest of the 12-horse field.

But Saturday’s victory did not come as easily as the odds would suggest. Forte was handicapped by a poor outside post position (No. 11), which forced him to travel wide around the first turn.

And when the field entered the final turn in the 1 1/8-mile stakes, Mage surged past him — opening up about a three-length advantage on the heavy favorite — and giving the impression that Forte couldn’t keep up.

“I was worried,” said Forte’s trainer, Todd Pletcher. “He had a lot to do turning for him. It looked like he had a lot to do still at the eighth pole. He came by me at the eighth pole and he looked beaten.”

Said Ortiz: “He [Mage] got by me so very nice. He was running. But at the same time, my horse gave me a good feeling. He jumped on the bit at that point.

“And I said I have the whole stretch. ‘I’m going to get there. I’m going to get there.’ ”

Forte suddenly found another gear, mustering his best for last, methodically reeled in Mage with every stride, and drawing off when he hit the wire. Winning time was 1:48.51. Cyclone Mischief settled for third.

“Forte just continues to amaze us,” said Pletcher, who trains the horse for Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable, whose Vinnie Viola owns the Florida Panthers NHL team.

“You witnessed a magnificent performance,” said Viola, whose Always Dreaming won the 2017 Florida Derby before going on to win that year’s Kentucky Derby.

It was Pletcher’s record seventh win in the Florida Derby.

Forte could turn out to best the best of the bunch. The colt has won six of his seven career races and five in a row.

He won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland in November to cap off his 2022 season and earning the Eclipse Award as the nation’s champion 2-year-old in the process.

Saturday’s race was his second this year, following his 4 1/2-length victory March 4 in the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream.

He is almost certain to be favored in the Kentucky Derby.

“He gets better and better,” Pletcher said.

Forte raced so wide throughout on Saturday that Pletcher said he very likely ran much farther than the Florida Derby distance of 1 1/8 miles and something closer to the Kentucky Derby distance of 1 1/4 miles.

“He handled the stretch-out to a mile and an eighth, and actually probably ran a mile and three-sixteenths today,” Pletcher said. “It gives you a lot of confidence moving forward.”

“He got a lot of experience today. The one good thing about here is you get a big crowd, a noisy crowd, the long post parade, so they get exposed to a lot. That experience hopefully pays off down the road.”

While Forte was punching his ticket for the Kentucky Derby, Affirmative Lady put herself into the picture for the Kentucky Oaks, the companion race to the Derby for 3-year-old fillies.

Ridden by Luis Saez, Affirmative Lady recorded a two-length victory over Sacred Wish to win Saturday’s $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks.

“Look, if she comes out of [Saturday’s race] OK, we have to run in the Kentucky Oaks,” winning trainer Graham Motion said.

The victory for Affirmative Lady, who is owned by AMO Racing USA, was her first in a stakes.