FORTE’S TRAINER IS SUSPENDED 10 DAYS

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher has been suspended 10 days and fined as the result of a positive drug test last year involving Forte, who was scratched hours before the Kentucky Derby last weekend because of an injury.

Forte was disqualified after winning the Hopeful Stakes on Sept. 5, 2022, at Saratoga in upstate New York for testing positive for meloxicam, according to a ruling posted Thursday on the New York State Gaming Commission website.

The drug is a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory that is not legal in racing. Pletcher also was fined $1,000. Forte’s owners, Mike Repole and Vincent Viola, forfeit the Hopeful’s first-place purse earnings of $165,000.

The ruling says Pletcher plans to appeal and a stay of the suspension has been granted, allowing him to work. However, the commission may terminate the stay if the hearing isn’t completed within 90 days of the ruling.

Pletcher appeared before New York stewards on Wednesday, a day after The New York Times reported the failed test.

Forte was the early favorite for last weekend’s Kentucky Derby, but was scratched by state officials hours before Saturday’s race because of a bruised right front foot.

More horse racing

Kentucky Derby winner Mage remains on track to run in the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore next week and resume the chase for horse racing’s first Triple Crown since Justify in 2018, with a final decision expected today. Ramiro Restrepo, part of the ownership group, said Thursday those in charge of deciding Mage’s next race wanted to see one final workout before making that determination. Fourth-place Derby finisher Disarm is expected to join Mage in the Preakness field.

Local colleges

Jillian Celis had a solo home run and three-run double to put the San Diego State softball team ahead to stay in a 5-4 victory over Nevada in the Mountain West Tournament at SDSU. The Aztecs had to throw out the tying run at home plate in the top of the seventh inning to ensure victory.

Soccer

Substitute Federico Gatti scored deep into stoppage time to salvage a 1-1 draw for Juventus against six-time champion Sevilla in the first leg of the Europa League semifinals. Roma stayed on course to claim back-to-back European titles by beating Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 in the first leg of their semifinal.

The Colorado Rapids removed a player from all team activities in connection with his alleged involvement with “unlawful sports gambling,” the team and MLS announced. Although neither organization’s statement identified the player, multiple reports identified him as forward Max Alves, who allegedly received $12,000 for getting a yellow card in a match last year against the LA Galaxy.

Tennis

Two Americans who tasted success at a young age and then struggled to maintain their level produced upset victories at the Italian Open in Rome. Sofia Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion who has dealt with injuries, beat the reigning Australian Open champion and second-ranked Aryna Sabalenka 7-6 (4), 6-2; and Taylor Townsend, once a junior prodigy now on the comeback trail after maternity leave, eliminated third-ranked Jessica Pegula 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.

Coco Gauff, another American and last year’s French Open runner-up, routed Yulia Putintseva

6-0, 6-1 in another second-round match on the red clay courts of the Foro Italico. Fresh off a doubles title in Madrid, Victoria Azarenka

stepped up her singles game by defeating Sloane Stephens 6-4, 6-3.

In men’s first-round action, Albert Ramos-Vinolas rallied past Italian wild card Francesco Passaro 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 to set up a rematch with Carlos Alcaraz.

Also

Swimming, gymnastics and track & field fans can rejoice. For the first time in a European Olympics, those event finals will be televised live on network television in the United States in 2024. NBC will have at least nine hours of weekday daytime coverage, expanding to at least 11 hours on weekends. With Paris six hours ahead of New York, the marquee finals will air live in the morning or late afternoon.

Mads Pedersen won the sixth stage of the Giro d’Italia after a twoman breakaway was caught with the line in sight. Andreas Leknessund kept hold of the pink jersey.