first. Forte
Owner/Trainer: Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable/Todd Pletcher
genealogy: Violence —Queen Caroline via Blame
Breeder: South Gate Farm (KY)
Hall of Fame coach Todd Pletcher expressed satisfaction with Forte’s training leading up to the Fountain of Youth (G2) on March 4 at Gulfstream Park, and the champion foal delivered. Well positioned in fifth under Irad Ortiz Jr., two miles behind the pace, he beat the early-timers and won by 4 1/2. in front of Holy Bull Stakes (G3) winner and fellow Derby member Dozen Missiles can . Forte’s 106 Base Speed figure is slightly above his figure from last year and should help keep him ready to continue growing.
Forte outruns Cyclone Mischief on his way to winning the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park
2. Arab Knights 
Zedan Racing Stables/Tim Yakteen
Uncle Mo —northern night via astrology
Purebred Corser (KY)
Southwest Stakes (G3) winner, transferred from coach Bob Baffert to Tim Yakteen late last month to qualify for the qualifying Kentucky Derby (G1) points and potentially enter the May 6 race , returned to his desk on March 4 with a boastful five-track record in :59 1/5 at Santa Anita . Park. It was his first breeze since February 13 after not working the following week and then training in Southern California interrupted by rainy weather. This 2-to-2 foal is scheduled to race only once before the Kentucky Derby, most likely in the April 1 Arkansas Derby (G1) or the April 8 Santa Anita Derby (G1).
3. Instant coffee
Golden Square/Brad Cox
Bolt d’Oro —Don’t Follow Anyone via Uncle Mo
Sagamore Farm (KY)
Bolt d’Oro class 1 double winner is cut below justification And good magic when they raced at the age of 3 in 2018. As a stallion, he led the group, all of which had promising beginnings in preschool. Bolt d’Oro is the top first crop of 2022 and he is currently topping the list of second crop of 2023 thanks to the success of Instant Coffee and other sophomore products. This late runner won Lecomte Stakes (G3) earlier this year at Fair Grounds Racecourse & Slotsafter his Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) win last year and appears to be on schedule for the $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2) on March 25.
4. Tapit Trice
Whisper Hill Farm and Gainesway Stable/Todd Pletcher
faucet —dazatrice via Dunkirk
Purebred Gainesway (KY)
Pletcher has won a record five times in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3), and Tapit Trice should be given him a sixth. After its third debut, the pony has racked up two wins in a row, with it most recently making headlines. Racing in person optional tier one claim on February 4 at Gulfstream Park, he was far ahead of his enemies by scoring eight points. He ran a mile in 1:36.44, earning an ESF of 96. By Tapit getting out of the dirty router winning the Danzatrice bet, the Tapit Trice was bred in two turns.
5. regeneration
SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan/Tim Yakteen
good magic—allanah by Scat Daddy
Woods Edge Farm (KY)
With a stable friend National treasures miss San Felipe with a soft foot, Rebirth is now a top rated Derby with 3-year-old hopes owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables , Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan. Reincarnation performed well to come in third on February 25 Rebel Stakes (G2) in the slide at Oaklawn Park after slowing down more than usual and then shutting down midway. The winner of Sham Stakes (G3) gained valuable experience that could boost his growth.
6. Realistic move
Leslie Amestoy, Pierre Jean Amestoy Jr., and Roger Beasley/Tim Yakteen
Realistic jokes —Naughty Ack via Alex’s Fleet
Chad Brown and Head of Delta Partnerships (KY)
His time to win 1 1/16 mile San Felipe Stakes (G2) was 1:42.01, fastest race time since Dortmund won it at 1:41.65 in 2015. Actually Move ran faster in San Felipe than 1st place winners like Bolt d’Oro (1:42.71, 2018), Real (1:43.56, 2020) and life is good (1:42.18, 2021). The Moving Reality, who received 108 ESFs, won two consecutive graded routes in stalking fashion with favorable ground-saving gaps.
Equestrian Ramon Vazquez celebrates winning from the Practical Move in the San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita Park
7. Ride the rocket rocket Geaux
Oak studs/Richard Mandella
candy ride —beyond grace by Uncle Mo
Horse OXO (KY)
Setbacks often come from promoted horses to quick first wins, but this talented pony ran even faster in the defeat at San Felipe than in the first win, going from 101 to 104 ESF. He hit the early speed of Hejazi in San Felipe and keep going, beating all but one actual move that slides up the fence. The Geaux Rocket Ride will benefit from the class and distance experience afforded by Hall of Famer coach Richard Mandella.
8. Verification in progress
Jonathan Poulin, Westerberg, Susan Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor/Brad Cox
justification—Diva Delite via Repent
Hunter Valley & Mountmellick Farm (KY)
Like Reincarnation, he doesn’t have a smooth ride in Rebel. Stuck back in traffic for the second inning after clumping behind his horse, he had the right to take the lead but ran brilliantly to take fourth place. The verification will go better on his next start if he can make a clear trip. With 14 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby, he could secure a place in the Derby by finishing third or higher in his final Derby prep.
9. confidence game
Don’t Tell My Wife The Stables/Keith Desormeaux
candy ride— Eblouissate by Bernardini
Summer Wind Horse (KY)
Few trainers have a better eye for sales value than Keith Desormeaux, who took this pony off a Lane’s End shipment at the September 2021 Annual Sale at Keeneland for $25,000. . Now, Confidence Games is a classified bet winner with a deposit of $785,525, most of which was made on a $1 million Rebel win. He seems to enjoy the slide in Rebel, and others in the field have good luck in the race, but it’s not Confidence Game’s only top race. He passed Missiles can on a fast track at Churchill Downs in November.
10. Missiles can
Racing Activity by Frank Fletcher/Bill Mott
into naughty —Stress by Tapit
Purebred Woodford (KY)
He ran much faster with his Fountain of Youth spot by running ESF 99 than he scored 89 on winning Holy Bull. He also shows perseverance, fighting to get ahead naughty whirlwind after Forte took the lead. Rocket Can finished first or second in his four races around two turns, all at 1 1/16 mile, one of which was a runner-up finish in the Confidence Game Below Twin Spiers in the fall.
With Forte sweeping the four corners and Rocket Can picking up speed, two roads off the tracks, the pitch leaves for the second turn in the 2023 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park
11. National treasures
SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan/Tim Yakteen
Quality Sugar —Treasure via Medaglia d’Oro
Peter E. Blum Thoroughbred (KY)
A bruised foot led to his scrape from San Felipe last Saturday. If no other problems appear, that is something a horse can quickly recover from, although it affects its preparation and seasoning. It likely leaves him with only one chance to earn enough points to qualify for the Derby. His talent is undeniable, with one win and three ranking times, including two in 1st grade.
twelfth. angel of the empire
Albaugh/Brad Cox . Family Barn
Classic Empire —army angelvia To honor and serve
Forgotten Land Investment and Black Diamond Equine (PA)
Bragging for the first time since receiving his Resurrection Star (G2) Stock on February 18, he walked the half-mile on Saturday at: 48 3/5 at Fair Grounds. He still seems to be on an upward trajectory. Even though his victory time in the Resurrection Star was slow—1 1/8 mile in 1:51.47—it still netted 96 ESF. He has steadily improved his stats throughout his 5-race career (58-66-80-92-96). Not a battle tested like the others in Derby Dozen from the company’s point of view.
