Repole Stable and St. 1 multiple class winner. Elias Stable Forte a finalist expected to be named the 2-year-old Men’s Champion of 2022, has begun ramping up preparations for the expected second-year debut his prize in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) prize pool of $400,000 on March 4 at Gulfstream Park.
Hall of Fame coach Todd Pletcher reported on January 22 that Forte passed with ease three times on: 38 2/5 Saturday at the Palm Beach Downs in good order. It marks Violence the pony is back on the work tab since winning the Breeders’ Cup for Minors (G1) on 5 November at Keeneland.
“It was very good,” Pletcher said. “It was his first work back, just a good one-third intro. Maybe we’ll go half a mile next week.”
Forte graduated for the first time last spring at Belmont Park and placed fourth in his equity debut at Sanford Stakes (G3) at Racecourse Saratoga. He hasn’t lost since, reeling from consecutive wins in the Shares of Hope (G1) and Breeders’ Futurity (G1) against the Breeders’ Cup.
Earning more than $1.5 million, Forte currently leads the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 40 points. Instant coffee late winner of Lecomte Stakes (G3) on Saturday at Fair Grounds Racecourse & Slotsholds second place with 32 points.
“We have identified the Fountain of Youth as our goal, and so far it is going according to plan,” says Pletcher. “We still have a way to go.”
This press release has been edited by BloodHorse Staff for content and style.
