TDN RISING STARS

May 27, 2022 - Belmont Park, Race 1, Msw, USD $90,000, 5F, .0000

Forte, c, 2, 2020 by Violence

1st Dam: Queen Caroline (MSW, $401,608), by Blame
2nd Dam: Queens Plaza, by Forestry
3rd Dam: Kew Garden, by Seattle Slew

Owner: Repole Stable & St. Elias Stable
Breeder: Southgate Farm (KY)
Trainer: Todd A. Pletcher

Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's Forte (Violence) was no secret to the betting public as the heavy 1-5 favorite for the Friday lid-lifted at Belmont Park and ran away from his overmatched rivals down the lane to earn 'TDN Rising Star' accolades.

The$80,000 Keeneland November weanling turned $110,000 Keeneland September acquisition had registered three works since shipping up from trainer Todd Pletcher's South Florida base at Palm Beach Downs and signaled his readiness with a best-of-24 half-mile from the gate that was timed in :48 flat May 20, just outworking Summonyourcourage (Practical Joke), who was third when making his first career appearance at Churchill Friday afternoon.

Debuting in the Repole blue-and-orange, Forte was not the quickest away and was under a hustling ride from third behind a :22.43 opening quarter. Pulled out three wide to deliver his challenge as they neared the stretch, the prohibitive chalk engaged pacesetting Wasabi Boy (Lord Nelson x Gas Station Sushi) a furlong and a half from home, got a few left-handed reminders from Irad Ortiz, Jr. and was in hand for the final sixteenth of a mile. The winning margin was 7 3/4 lengths, while Wasabi Boy was over eight lengths ahead of the rest of the field.