Watch: Ahead of the Kentucky Derby, Forte Proved Why He Is the Hot Favorite With a Brilliant Comeback

The sensational horse from Virginia, Forte, has once again cemented his status as a top contender for the Kentucky Derby. His remarkable come-from-behind win in the $1-million Florida Derby on April 1st has eliminated any doubts about who will be the fan favorite at the upcoming event. Fans around the world are eagerly anticipating his next race, as his impressive performance has left no doubt that he is a force to be reckoned with. Forte’s surprising yet well-earned victory in the Florida Derby has proven to the equestrian community that he is the one everyone should be rooting for.

An equestrian community favorite makes a comeback

NBC Sports recently shared a video of the Florida Derby, showcasing the complete race footage, including the thrilling moment when Forte emerged as the winner. The accompanying caption read, “Kentucky Derby darling Forte overcomes an outside post and a final stretch deficit to win the Florida Derby.”

Before his one-length victory at the Florida Derby, Forte was already a popular pick as the 5-2 Las Vegas futures favorite. However, his impressive win at the Derby is expected to further improve his odds, making him an even stronger contender for the upcoming races.

The Southern California horses had a mixed showing in the Florida Derby and the Arkansas Derby. Fort Bragg finished fifth in the former while Reincarnate placed third in the latter. There is much speculation about Forte’s chances in Louisville after his win in Florida. It is worth noting that 14 horses who have won the Florida Derby have gone on to win at Churchill Downs.

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Forte is a notable contender, having also won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Only two horses in history, Sense in 2006 and Nyquist in 2015, have won both the Kentucky and Juvenile races. However, Forte’s win in the Florida Derby was a special circumstance. Fort Bragg had been leading the pack until the top of the stretch when the competition became more crowded. Despite this, Forte was able to overtake Fort Bragg and win.

Overall, the Florida Derby had mixed results for the Southern California horses, but Forte’s performance has garnered attention and speculation about his future success.

The amazing win at the Florida Derby

As the race reached its midway point, Forte looked beat amidst the congested field. Mage seized the opportunity and charged to the front. However, guided by the skilled hand of Irad Ortiz Jr., Forte summoned a burst of energy and surged ahead, leaving all the other horses trailing behind with just 30 yards remaining till the finish line. Despite earlier concerns, Forte’s trainer Todd Pletcher was elated by the unexpected triumph.

According to Los Angeles Times, he said, “I was worried, he had a lot of running to do turning for home. He had to angle out really wide and kind of got a wide trip all the way around. … It looked like he had work to do still at the eighth pole but then he really kicked it in the last part and found his best stride in the last sixteenth” of a mile.

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This spectacular performance has definitely ensured Forte’s place back into the top-most choice for the Kentucky Derby. Who are you putting the odds on?