{"id":268119,"date":"2023-04-08T19:33:42","date_gmt":"2023-04-09T00:33:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/?p=268119"},"modified":"2023-05-25T06:07:59","modified_gmt":"2023-05-25T11:07:59","slug":"road-to-the-kentucky-derby-forte-remains-solid-favorite-as-field-solidifies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/road-to-the-kentucky-derby-forte-remains-solid-favorite-as-field-solidifies\/","title":{"rendered":"Road to the Kentucky Derby: Forte Remains Solid Favorite as Field Solidifies"},"content":{"rendered":"

We\u2019re now four weeks away from the Kentucky Derby, and with the final three major prep races occurring Saturday, we now have a fairly clear picture of who will be running for the roses on May 6.<\/p>\n

\"Tapit<\/a>
Tapit Trice, left, runs past Verifying down the stretch of Saturday’s Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky. on Saturday. The win gave Tapit Trice 100 points toward qualifying for next month’s Kentucky Derby. (Image: Keeneland\/Twitter)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Despite exciting wins by a pair of favorites, Tapit Trice in the Blue Grass Stakes and Practical Move in the Santa Anita Derby, neither of them looked impressive enough to bump Forte<\/a> from the mantle of presumptive Kentucky Derby favorite.<\/p>\n

The other Derby prep, the Wood Memorial, featured 59-1 shot Lord Miles edging favorite Hit King for the upset win.<\/p>\n

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Assuming he stays healthy, Forte will likely be a strong betting choice as the horses head to the starting gate at Churchill Downs. All the Todd Pletcher-trained colt has done to earn that is win five straight races.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Not only have they been graded stakes wins, but that streak includes four Grade 1 wins. The last came last weekend in the Florida Derby in stirring fashion as Forte rallied from fifth place and from well outside in stretch to score the victory.<\/p>\n

Pletcher will actually come into Louisville with three contenders. Besides Forte, he also trains Tapit Trice and Kingsbarns, an undefeated colt who won the Louisiana Derby two weeks ago.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWe’re blessed,\u201d Pletcher told reporters at Keeneland Saturday after Tapit Trice\u2019s victory. \u201cWe’ve had a good spring, and now we got to hopefully have another good four weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Case for Forte<\/h2>\n

Favorites have recently suffered a bit of a dry spell in the Derby. The last to win was Triple Crown winner Justify in 2018, but the bettors\u2019 choices have come close in recent years, with last year’s favorite, Epicenter, finishing second.<\/p>\n

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What I think helps Forte\u2019s case this year is how he won the Florida Derby. He had an outside post \u2013 11th out of 12 \u2013 and found himself stuck in traffic for most of the race. He looked to be out of contention when he finally made his move. Those conditions are about as close as you can get to a Kentucky Derby environment, where Forte could find himself battling 19 other competitors.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Pletcher has said the major prep race at Gulfstream Park would serve as a good test for his prized colt. The trainer came away pleased that Forte\u2019s best part of the 1-1\/8 mile Florida Derby was the final sixteenth, which would indicate he\u2019d do well in the 1-1\/4 mile Kentucky Derby.<\/p>\n

What was impressive \u2026 was when he did make the lead, he kind of pricked his ears again which we\u2019ve seen him do a number of times,\u201d Pletcher said. \u201cIt kind of makes you believe there\u2019s a little more in the tank there.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

After Saturday\u2019s races, Circa Sports in Las Vegas kept Forte as the favorite with odds of +315, meaning a $100 wager would net $315. Tapit Trice and Practice Move are next at +550 each, and Verifying, who lost by a neck to Tapit Trice on Saturday, and Kingsbarns are +950.<\/p>\n

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NEW: @CircaSports<\/a> just posted its latest Kentucky Derby futures after today's prep races.<\/p>\n

Forte remains the convincing favorite at +315 (Bet $100 to net $315), with Tapit Trice and Practical Move the co-second choice at +550.<\/p>\n

Verifying and Louisiana Derby winner Kingsbarns +950 pic.twitter.com\/UYjif1nFIW<\/a><\/p>\n

— Steve Bittenbender (@BittGDCG) April 8, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n