Correll’s Corner: Forte lives up to Hype

Ron Correll
Senior columnist
Tracksideview —-

TRINITY, Fla. – The Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park in south Florida and the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs were the Kentucky Derby points’ races that were contested on April 1.

Forte overcame the 11-hole draw to run down the rest of the 12-horse field to win the Florida Derby in 1:48.51 and head to Louisville as the top choice for the 149th “Run for the Roses” on the first Saturday in May.

The son of Violence had to work a little in the race but proved he could handle a little traffic trouble and still get the job done.

Angel of Empire came from mid-pack rounding the second turn and took the overland trip in Arkansas and ran away from the rest of the field to win by five lengths. His time for the same mile-and-an-eighth distance was 1:49.68.

Forte (sire: Violence) should be the morning-line favorite for the Derby. He’s trained by Todd Pletcher.

Tapit Trice (Tapit) blitzed the field in the Tampa Bay Derby once he got his act together and he did it in a 12-horse field.

Angel of Empire (Classic Empire) will be the second or third choice in Louisville after Arkansas win. Brad Cox trains.

Practical Move (Practical Joke) is slated for the Santa Anita Derby.

Confidence Game (Candy Ride) won the Rebel and trainer Keith Desormeaux says the colt could either go in the Blue Grass on April 8 or the Lexington on April 15, both at Keeneland or just train up to the Derby.

Derma Sotogake (Mine Your Biscuits) won the UAE Derby and a Japanese colt may finally make noise in Louisville.

Kingsbarns (Uncle Mo) time Louisiana Derby was slow, but that may have been by design.

Disarm (Gun Runner) was second in Louisiana but he had a “dirty” trip in the race.

Mage (Good Magic) was second in Florida Derby and has the points for the big dance.

Reincarnate (Good Magic) was third in the Arkansas Derby, but he didn’t impress me.

Wild on Ice (Tapizar) has 50 points but he won the Sunland Derby (mile-and-an-eighth in 1:51.39) at 35-1.

Raise Cain (Violence) has the points but is he good enough? He’s trained by Ben Colebrook.

Rocket Can (Into Mischief) ran fourth in Arkansas and he has 60 points so he’ll probably go to Louisville.

Cover Photo by Jaime Newell