Kentucky Derby favorite scratched from race due to bruised right foot

Kentucky Derby favorite Forte has been scratched from Saturday’s race, Churchill Downs introduced. 

Forte was faraway from the race following a Saturday morning workout attributable to concern over a bruised proper foot, in line with ESPN.

Forte is washed within the barn space after morning exercises in preparation for the 149th working of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Might 5, 2023, in Louisville, Kentucky.  (Stacy Revere/Getty Photos)

The horse was a 4-1 favourite to win the Kentucky Derby previous to the announcement. 

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Coach Todd Pletcher and co-owner Mike Repole had been seen talking with a state-commissioned veterinarian after Forte’s morning exercise. 

Forte is the fifth horse scratched from the Derby, and the race is now set to be run with 18 horses. It could be the smallest discipline to run on the Kentucky Derby since 2020, when simply 15 horses ran, in line with ESPN. 

Forte (15) coach Todd Pletcher on the bottom at Churchill Downs within the early morning earlier than the 149th working of the Kentucky Derby on Might 6, 2023, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.  (Jeff Moreland/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photos)

It’s the primary time since 1936 that 5 horses have been scratched from the race. 

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Sensible Transfer, Lord Miles, and Continuar had been all scratched on Thursday, with Skinner scratched on Friday attributable to an elevated temperature.

“After evaluating the colt upon my arrival, I really feel that he has not been capable of attain the peak fitness required to tackle a race as robust because the Kentucky Derby,” stated Continuar coach Yoshito Yahagi, in line with the Courier Journal. 

Forte runs on the monitor in the course of the morning coaching for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Might 3, 2023, in Louisville, Kentucky.  (Andy Lyons/Getty Photos)

On Thursday, Churchill Downs indefinitely suspended coach Saffie Joseph, Jr. following the sudden deaths of two horses. 

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“Given the unexplained sudden deaths, we’ve cheap considerations concerning the situation of his horses, and determined to droop him indefinitely till particulars are analyzed and understood,” stated Invoice Mudd, President and Chief Working Officer of CDI. “The security of our equine and human athletes and integrity of our sport is our highest precedence. We really feel these measures are our responsibility and duty.”

Submit time for the 2023 Kentucky Derby is scheduled for six:57 p.m. ET.