Late Derby Scratch to Sideline Forte for Preakness Stakes

A bruised foot on the first Saturday in May will also keep Forte from running on the third Saturday in May.

The race-day favorite in the Kentucky Derby was scratched by veterinarians from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. The bruised right foot took the 3-1 favorite out of the race at Churchill Downs, and since he was scratched by the KHRC, placed on a 14-day vet list. The KHRC released the following statement Monday evening.

“Forte was scratched from the Kentucky Derby by KHRC veterinarians following Saturday’s routine soundness checks. As is the case with all KHRC veterinary scratches related to soundness, and pursuant to HISA Rule 2241(a), this places Forte on a mandatory 14-day veterinary list. After 14 days, the requirements for removal from the list include a satisfactory workout performed for a state regulatory veterinarian and a negative blood sample result.”

Since Forte was scratched by vets on the day of the Kentucky Derby, and not the day before, he will not be able to run at Pimlico in the Preakness Stakes. Maryland racing officials confirmed the news to NBC’s Tim Layden. “Forte is on the vets’ list and is not eligible to run in the Preakness.”

On Sunday trainer Todd Pletcher shared his initial training plan for Forte with the Courier-Journal. Pletcher was giving the horse rest before breezing Forte on Friday and Saturday. If he ran well, the Preakness was on the schedule. Just like Forte, Pletcher is going to have to scratch that plan. While connections reassess their strategy moving forward, I would not be surprised if we did not see Forte until the summer circuit at Saratoga.

Forte vs. Mage Not the Only Rematch Off the Table

The sport of horse racing was desperate for a positive storyline after a week of fatalities at Churchill Downs. They were going to get it with a duel between Mage and Forte in the second leg of the Triple Crown.

Forte, the sport’s 2-year-old champion, was victorious over Mage in the Fountain of Youth (where Mage ran fourth) and in the Florida Derby (as Forte caught Mage just ahead of the wire). As soon as Forte was sidelined, Mage took advantage of it by racing to immortality at the Kentucky Derby. A rivalry between the two horses would’ve provided an entertaining storyline for casual fans, but the racing rules will not let it come to fruition.

What’s even worse — we won’t get a Kentucky Derby rematch between the top two horses. Trainer Larry Rivelli told the Daily Herald Two Phil’s will not travel to Baltimore for the Preakness after losing by one length in the Kentucky Derby.

NBC Draws Big Kentucky Derby Rating

The Kentucky Derby is a big deal for folks who live in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, but it’s hard to gauge how the race day is viewed nationwide. The answer is it’s viewed by A LOT of people nationwide. The NBC broadcast was just shy of its goal of $15 million viewers, making the Kentucky Derby the most watched television production since the Super Bowl. Another detail from the ratings: 65% of all TVs in use were watching the Kentucky Derby. What were the other 35% watching?

Kentucky Derby drew a total audience delivery of 14.8 million viewers on NBC, -8% from 2022, but +2% from 2021.

Best sporting event on TV since Super Bowl.

The figure (which includes non-Nielsen streaming measurement), puts Kentucky Derby just above NCAA Basketball Championship

— Austin Karp (@AustinKarp) May 8, 2023