Forte captures Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
The 2-year-old colt upsets Baffert-trained and heavy favorite Cave Rock to win fourth race in five starts.
LEXINGTON, Ky. — It was no surprise that Cave Rock and National Treasure, both trained by Bob Baffert, would finish one in front of the other in the $2-million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, much like they did when Cave Rock won the American Pharoah at Santa Anita last month.
The surprise was that Forte finished in front of both. Well, not that big of a surprise because the 2year-old colt was the second choice at 5-1 behind heavy favorite Cave Rock, who was 2-5.
It was Forte’s third Grade 1 stakes win and fourth victory in five starts, giving trainer Todd Pletcher his third win in the Juvenile. The last time was in 2012 with Shanghai Bobby. He also won in 2010 with Uncle Mo, who like Forte is owned by Mike Repole. Vinnie Viola, owner of the NHL’s Florida Panthers, is also a part of the ownership group.
Asked what’s next for the colt, Repole said, “2-year-old championship, Eclipse Award, Palm Beach, wherever they are having it this year.”
The race set up as expected with Cave Rock pressing the early leader Congruent on the outside. On the backstretch, Cave Rock put his head in front and it was looking like he was on his way to his fourth consecutive win. National Treasure moved up to second. But midway through the far turn, jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. got Forte to start passing horses. By mid-stretch Forte passed Cave Rock and won the 11⁄16-mile race by 11⁄2 lengths.
“He got that two-turn experience [in the Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland] and it paid off,” Pletcher said. “He was much more professional [Friday]. We learned a little something [from the Breeders’ Futurity] and we tweaked off the last race and it paid off coming here.”
Forte paid $12.04 to win, $3.76 to place and $2.64 to show.
Baffert offered no excuses for his horses.
“Forte ran a great race and came and got us,” he said. “I knew they went very fast early and I thought [jockey] Juan [Hernandez] did a good job. He stayed away when they were going fast and slowed it down. He didn’t switch leads until way late. He got tired and that other horse came running. He ran a big race.”
Winning the Juvenile is no guarantee of Kentucky Derby success as only two of the previous 38 winners went on to win at Churchill Downs — Street Sense in 2007 and Nyquist in 2016.
The second day of the Breeders’ Cup on Saturday is nine races, all worth at least $1 million. It will be highlighted by the $6-million Breeders’ Cup Classic where the undefeated Flightline will take on a strong field.