Edited Churchill Staff Release, Saturday, May 6, 2023) – Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable’s morning line favorite Forte was scratched from Kentucky Derby 149 Saturday at 9 a.m. by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission state veterinarian. Co-owner Mike Repole stated that the state veterinarians had concerns about a bruised right front foot.
Forte is the fifth horse to scratch from Saturday’s race, joining Practical Move, Lord Miles, Continaur (JPN) and Skinner. The last time five horses were scratched from the Kentucky Derby was 1936 when 19 horses entered the race and 14 ran.
Program numbers for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, which has a post time of 6:57 p.m. ET, remain unchanged but post positions are moved without changing of the order of the starters. The 18-horse lineup will break from posts 1-18 in the 20-stall Kentucky Derby starting gate. Posts 19 and 20 will be empty.
Any Pick 4, Pick 5 and Pick 6 wagers including the Kentucky Derby that were placed prior to the scratch will revert to the post time favorite. Bets on the two-day Oaks/Derby Double and the Oaks/Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic/Derby Pick 3 will receive consolation payouts. All other advance wagers on Forte – not including the Kentucky Derby Future Wager – will be refunded.
Following the scratch, it was announced that Irad Ortiz Jr., who was scheduled to ride Forte, will now accept the mount aboard Cyclone Mischief.
