Kentucky Derby favorite Forte has been scratched. One South Florida-based horse remains

Forte, the favorite to win Saturday’s Kentucky Derby and a horse co-owned by Florida Panthers owner Vincent Viola, was scratched from the race Saturday, the derby announced Saturday morning.

According to the New York Times, Kentucky state veterinarians made the call to take Forte out of the race after an examination found him unfit to compete.

Forte’s trainer Todd Pletcher and co-owner Mike Repole were seen meeting with a state racing commission veterinarian after the decision to take the horse out of the race, according to ESPN.

Repole said state veterinarians were concerned about a bruised right foot, ESPN reported. Forte had stumbled during a workout on the track Thursday.

“I think the vets are being overly cautious, but I understand, the safety of the horse is the most important thing,” Repole said in a video broadcast by WDRB in Kentucky.

“I’m sad, devastated, I’m devastated for Todd Pletcher. I’m devastated for my friends and family back at the hotel who I get to tell we have to scratch the derby. I’m shocked because a bruise can be 24 hours or a bruise can be 72 hours or 96 hours or a week,” Repole continued in the six-minute video.

“And the reason why we galloped him today, when we probably didn’t have to by the way, was because Todd wanted to make sure everything was alright. He galloped great. He came off, they say he was off a tick,” Repole said, shrugging. “It’s subjective. It was not like an obvious, I don’t know much about this but he seemed fine to me.”

Repole Stable tweeted Saturday afternoon. “The toughest situations build the strongest people & horses in the end. I’m so sorry Forte.”

With Forte out, one South Florida-based horse remains. Mage, a chestnut colt owned by South Florida’s Ramiro Restrepo, currently owns 17-1 odds, according to Churchill Downs. Mage made his racing debut at Gulfstream on Jan. 28 in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup, “the richest race in Florida,” and won by nearly four lengths.

Forte was the fifth horse to be scratched from the 149th Kentucky Derby, the most in a single race since 1936, according to CBS Sports. There are 18 horses remaining, according to the derby.

Originally published May 6, 2023 at 7:19 AM