Forte Wins Fountain of Youth in Impressive 3-year-old Debut

March 4th, 2023

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Fote was the impressive winner of the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park in his 3-year-old debut. (Adam Coglianese.)

Living up to his lofty juvenile champion status was little problem for Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's Forte, who began his 3-year-old campaign on March 4 with an impressive 4 1/2-length victory in the $400,000 Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

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Forte, a son of Violence, posted a winning time of 1:43.12 for the 1 1/16 miles to earn 50 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve. His 90 overall points lead all contenders seeking to run for the roses at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May.

The dark bay or brown colt was coming off a fourth-month layoff following his third straight Grade 1 triumph in the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance at Keeneland Nov. 4.

"Honestly, I can't say I'm surprised," winning trainer Todd Pletcher said of Forte's performance. "I felt really, really good about the way this horse was coming into the race."

Just how good is Forte?

"Looks like there's a lot of upside," Pletcher said with a smile.

Forte broke slightly inward out of the gate and settled in fifth behind leaders Cyclone Mischief, Dangerous Ride, Rocket Can, and Mage around the clubhouse turn.

Cyclone Mischief and jockey Tyler Gaffalione proceeded to set fractions of :24.05, :47.65 and 111.84. Forte settled in the two path.

Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. steered Forte four-wide around the far turn. Last year's juvenile champ then seized command in upper stretch and drew off for the win.

"I had a beautiful trip, beautiful trip," Ortiz Jr. said. "Everything I expected to happen, everything came out good. I wanted to get a good position, he put me in a great place, right behind the horse (Rocket Can) I had to beat. I just bided my time to go."

Rocket Can, winner of the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park Feb. 4, finished second to earn 20 Kentucky Derby points. The Frank Fletcher Racing Operations colt, trained by Bill Mott, now has 40 points overall.

Forte was much the best in the Fountain of Youth. (Jamie Newell)

"He ran big," Mott said of Rocket Can. "I was hoping he wouldn't get too excited, but he still looked like he ran his race."

Cyclone Mischief, trained by Dale Romans, took third and 15 Kentucky Derby points, and fourth-place Mage, trained by Gustavo Delgado, earned 10 points. Shadow Dragon finished fifth to earn 5 points.

Blazing Sevens, a Chad Brown-trained son of Good Magic, had finished fourth behind Forte in the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance after winning the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes. He spent Saturday's trip at or near the back of the nine-horse field.

"He broke really well out of there," jockey Joel Rosario said. "I couldn't get in my position going into the first turn and after that he just kind of ran steady." It wasn't his day today."

Forte's next race figures to be in the Grade 1 Curlin Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park April 1 or in the Grade 1 Toyota Bluegrass Stakes April 8 at Keeneland.

"We carefully laid out a plan," said Pletcher. "We thought that we had a program that put him in position to be ready to run while still having room for improvement and room to continue to develop. I think we were able to accomplish that." —Charlie McCarthy