Forte Beats Saudi Crown by Nose in Jim Dandy Thriller

There was much that could be said or written about what happened July 29 on a sloppy, sealed racetrack at Saratoga Race Course in the $485,000 Jim Dandy Stakes (G2).

A loose leader struggling to stay in front in the final yards. A champion showing his mettle and quality while sticking his nose in front at the wire. A stewards inquiry before the result was made official. A soggy but fitting prep for the division's blockbuster showdown Aug. 26 in the Travers Stakes (G1).

Forte, dk b/br, 3/cViolence — Queen Caroline, by Blame

Owner: Repole Stable and St. Elias StableBreeder: South Gate Farm (KY)Trainer: Todd A. PletcherJockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.Information provided by Equibase at time of entry.

Pedigree NotesViolence stands at Hill 'n' Dale Farms for $50,000 (2023).

Sale HistoryKEESEP2021 • $110,000 • Consignor: Eaton Sales • Buyer: West Bloodstock, agent for Repole Stable & St. Elias.KEENOV2020 • $80,000 • Consignor: Bluegrass Thoroughbred Services, agent for South Gate Farm • Buyer: Silver Hill Farm.

All of that was wrapped up neatly in one electrifying package when Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's Forte managed to reel in front-running Saudi Crown by a nose in the 1 1/8-mile test and remind everyone that leadership of the 3-year-old generation still runs through the champ of the crop when they were 2.

"It's a relief. It's beyond a relief," co-owner Mike Repole said. "It feels good."

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Yet as much as what happened on the final Saturday in July bodes well for the events of the final Saturday in August, they could not erase what took place on the first Saturday in May when Forte's connections found themselves in a Kafkaesque nightmare. For on that May 6 morning, Forte, the favorite in the Kentucky Derby (G1), was scratched by regulatory veterinarians over concerns related to a right front foot that had been bruised days earlier. That started a wild and volatile ride that included the following week's announcement of a post-race drug test that revealed meloxicam in the system of Forte after his win in last September's Hopeful Stakes (G1) at the Spa (also on a sloppy track), causing a disqualification of the horse and a suspension and fine for trainer Todd Pletcher that is currently under appeal.

Then in Forte's first race in 10 weeks, the son of Violence bred by South Gate Farm in Kentucky finished second in the Belmont Stakes (G1), his first loss since a fourth in the Sanford Stakes (G3) at the Spa in his second career start.

Suddenly, the horse that was a cut above the rest in the 3-year-old division was mired in a muddled battle for leadership of the 3-year-old male division and awash in controversy.

"It's been four months, four tough months. This horse needed a win like this and it feels good. He's the best 3-year-old in the country and today he proved it by gutting it out," Repole said. "He's gutsy. He fights and he fights."

It was not lost on Repole that after the race the outcome would hinge on the decision of the New York stewards, a group he has had cantankerous relations with, especially since the Hopeful disqualification. With Forte inside of Angel of Empire and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. looking for a lane to move into the clear and then continuing outside of the drifting Saudi Crown in the stretch, there seemed to be some bumping between Forte and the third-place finisher, but there was no change in the order of finish.

"Right now the stewards don't love me, so I was hoping that maybe it would be like when the head coach gets a tech (technical foul) and he gets the next call," Repole said.

For Pletcher, there was pride afterward in the effort by his multiple grade 1 winner.

"This was an important race for Forte to get back on track and return to the winner's circle," he said. "That was a quality horse on the lead and a quality horse that was third."

But when asked if it eased some of the pain of the last four months, he quickly replied, "Nope."

"You can't just get over having to scratch the Derby favorite. That's a tough one to get over," Pletcher said.

After Saturday's thriller, up next for Forte is the Travers, the 1 1/4-mile Midsummer Derby that likely holds the key to clinching the 3-year-old title with a field expected to include the winners of the Kentucky Derby (Mage ), Preakness Stakes (G1) (National Treasure ), and Belmont (Arcangelo ).

"If he lost by a nose, no," Repole replied when asked if there was a benefit to Saturday's win in terms of conditioning. "If he wins by a nose, yes. He had 10 weeks off before the Belmont and seven weeks here. I think he will be sharper for the Travers. This was a good stepping stone."

A field of just four 3-year-olds was expected for the Jim Dandy with none of them possessing early speed, but trainer Brad Cox's last-minute decision to enter Saudi Crown, his third starter along with Angel of Empire and Hit Show , changed all of that. A stretch-out speed horse, FMQ Stables' son of Always Dreaming lived up to his billing, leading by a length through moderate fractions of :48.10 and 1:12.30.

Forte, running with blinkers for the first time, and Albaugh Family Stables' Angel of Empire, who was sent off as the favorite in the Run for the Roses in Forte's absence, were next, a length ahead of Disarm and Hit Show, who would finish fourth and fifth.

In the stretch, Saudi Crown, who had never raced around two turns before, struggled to stay in front. Ortiz, searching for room, leaned into Angel of Empire to come off the inside. Once Forte ($3.50), the 3-5 favorite, found a seam, it was a furious battle to the wire that went to the juvenile champ by a nostril in 1:49.61.

"You're the one with the target on your back and you've got another stable with three horses in there. We were expecting some race tactics," said Pletcher, who called the addition of blinkers a "positive change." "I think once he was able to get himself in the clear, the horse on the lead kept drifting out, out, out and maybe to the eight path at one point. Irad said that compromised him a little bit from moving forward sooner."

For Cox, the loss was reminiscent of last year's Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland when Forte beat one of his 2-year-olds, Loggins , by a neck.

"I'm getting tired of running against Forte," he said with a laugh. "I'm very proud of (Saudi Crown)'s effort. He's a grade 1 horse in the future."

Cox said Saudi Crown, who finished a half-length in front of Angel of Empire, would probably point toward the Sept. 23 Pennsylvania Derby (G1) at 1 1/8 miles at Parx Racing while Angel of Empire, a son of Classic Empire , would be considered for the Travers.

Forte, a winner of 7 of 9 starts with earnings of $2.9 million, was purchased for $110,000 from the Eaton Sales consignment at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He is the first of two foals from the Blame mare Queen Caroline , who also has a 2-year-old Uncle Mo colt named Dr. Park.