

In addition to his current stay on the vet’s list and subsequent absence from Saturday’s Preakness Stakes, Forte and his trainer, Todd Pletcher, have been in the news for other negative reasons of late. Earlier this month, the New York Times reported Forte had a positive post-race drug test in September. up, wins the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland in Lexington, KY on November 4, 2022. The timeline to complete this criteria means it’s impossible for Forte to race in Saturday night’s Preakness Stakes.īoth Kentucky and Maryland (the Preakness takes place at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore), operate under HISA standards, which means Forte’s placement on the vet’s list is honored for the Preakness.įorte, with Irad Ortiz, Jr. The 14-day stay stretches until May 20, which is the day of the Preakness Stakes (Saturday).īut, there is additional criteria Forte must meet to come off the vet’s list, including the completion of a satisfactory workout and the providing of a blood test. While on the vet’s list, a horse can’t race.Īccording to BloodHorse, Forte’s time on the vet’s list began May 6. The rule says horses scratched from races for veterinary reasons, as was the case with Forte, “shall remain on the list for 14 days.” The KHRC - in accordance with Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) standards - issued a release saying Forte would be placed on the veterinary list for two weeks due to his foot injury.Īccording to the KHRC statement, Forte’s placement on the vet’s list was pursuant to HISA Rule 2241(a), which went into effect in Kentucky last July.

Having the morning line favorite scratch prior to the Derby is a nearly unprecedented event, and the fallout of Forte’s injury also ruled him out of racing in Saturday’s second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes. Nicholas Smith due to concerns about Forte’s bruised right front foot. The Todd Pletcher-trained 3-year-old Thoroughbred was universally viewed as the favorite for the 149th Kentucky Derby earlier this month at Churchill Downs in Louisville, but he was dramatically scratched just hours before the race.įorte’s removal from the Kentucky Derby field came at the behest of Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) veterinarian Dr. Forte has been in the news a lot of late for a horse that hasn’t raced since early April.
