Louisville.- The favorite to win the Kentucky Derby was ruled out hours before the race began.
Forte was ruled out of the 149th edition of the Derby on Saturday, Churchill Downs spokesman Darren Rodgers said. Co-owner Mike Repole indicated that veterinarians with the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission were concerned about a bruised right foot.
It was the fifth loss this week for the $3 million race, the first time there have been so many losses in a single year since 1939. That year 19 horses were entered, but only 14 competed.
The filly tripped on the track during training Thursday, though trainer Todd Pletcher played down the incident.
Five horses have died in recent days at Churchill Downs, including two owned by trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., who was suspended by the compound and his horse, Lord Miles, was decommissioned.
Veterinarians came to Pletcher’s barn on Saturday to watch and examine Forte, who galloped on the track and trotted out of the barn.
Forte was coming off winning five straight races and was a 3-1 favorite. His jockey, Irad Ortiz Jr., will now compete with Cyclone Mischief.
This leaves 18 horses for the 1 1/4 mile Derby. Fillies will start from position 1 to 18. Positions 19 and 20 will be empty.
It’s another disappointment for Repole in the Derby.
He owned Uncle Mo, who was favorite in 2011 and was also dropped one day before the race. The filly had a gastrointestinal infection and was eventually diagnosed with a rare liver disease. He returned to racing before it was withdrawn in November of that year.
Other horses that were written off this week with Practical Move and Skinner, both due to fever, as well as Carry On.
Pletcher, a two-time Derby winner, will saddle Tapit Trice and Kingsbarns.
It is not the first time that the favorite has been ruled out due to a trapped epiglottis, which affected his breathing. He underwent an operation and he returned to compete a year later.
In 2009, I Want Revenge was dropped on the same day as the Derby after they discovered a soft tissue injury to his left ankle.
