Florida Derby favorite Forte must overcome outside post if he wants to win race

The nation’s No. 1 contender for the Kentucky Derby — the sensational 3-year-old Forte — must not only deal with the 11 other horses expected to line up Saturday in the Florida Derby, his final tune-up before the May 6 Run for the Roses.

He’ll also need to overcome a poor post position.

Forte had the misfortune of drawing post No. 11, a disadvantageous starting point in Gulfstream Park’s marquee race, which has a $1 million purse and rich history.

Due to the short run to the first turn, Forte could be hung out wide, a position that could cost him precious ground in the 1 1/8-mile stakes.

“It’s a tremendous disadvantage statistically and a shame post can play such a significant factor in such an important race,” the colt’s Hall of Fame trainer, Todd Pletcher, told the Daily Racing Form.

Despite that obstacle, Forte has been listed as the 4-5 program favorite to capture Gulfstream’s signature event and give Pletcher his record seventh victory in the Florida Derby. And just to make Forte even more formidable, he’ll receive the riding services of Irad Ortiz Jr., the track’s — and arguably the nation’s — premier jockey.

“No problem,” Ortiz replied when asked whether he had any concerns about starting from the outside post. “The turn is right there [soon after the start]. But he’s been breaking good. He can do anything. If we get a clean break, he’ll be OK.”

And Forte isn’t the only top Florida Derby to draw a poor post. The top three choices on the morning line — Fort Bragg, Forte and Dubyuhnell — drew the three outside posts. If there’s a silver lining, Big Brown won the 2008 Florida Derby from post 12 before going on to win the Kentucky Derby.

Forte has won five of his six career races for owners Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable, whose Vinnie Viola also owns the Florida Panthers NHL team. Viola and Pletcher teamed up in 2017 to win the Florida Derby with Always Dreaming, who went on to win the Kentucky Derby.

Forte stands poised to make it a repeat. He was crowned the nation’s champion 2-year-old of 2022 after winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in November and kicked off his 2023 campaign with a 4 ½-length victory in Gulfstream’s Fountain of Youth Stakes on March 4. At present, he is the 5-2 future book favorite to win the Kentucky Derby.

“As impressively as he’s won a couple of these races, he’s kind of come to the wire with his ears up, taking everything in,” Pletcher said. “Obviously, as these races get a little more difficult, he’ll need to stay focused.”

The Florida Derby is not a must-win race for Forte. He has already earned enough qualifying points to secure a spot in the Kentucky Derby starting gate.

The same can’t be said for any of the other members of the Florida Derby field. None of the 11 are currently ranked in the top 20 on the points leaderboard for the Kentucky Derby, and the Florida Derby likely represents their last chance to ensure a spot in the 20-horse starting gate.

One of Forte’s top threats Saturday figures to be Fort Bragg, who ships in from California for Tim Yakteen, who is serving as the colt’s surrogate handler for suspended trainer Bob Baffert. Fort Bragg is coming off a fifth-place effort in the San Felipe at Santa Anita on March 4 and is the 5-1 second choice for the Florida Derby.

Remsen Stakes winner Dubyuhnell is the third program selection at 6-1, but received an even worse post than Forte. He’ll break from post No. 12 on the extreme outside.

The rest of the field includes Jungfrau (20-1); West Coast Cowboy (20-1); Shaq Diesel (30-1); Mage (10-1); Mr. Peeks (30-1); Nautical Star (30-1); Il Miracolo (30-1); Mr. Ripple (30-1); and Cyclone Mischief (8-1).