Champion Forte sires first foal
January 9, 2025
Bred by Gary Holland’s Kamden Favorites, the dark bay or brown filly is the first foal out of the Collected mare Gravy, a half-sister to stakes winners Financial Recovery and Blue Heart.
Spendthrift Farm’s Forte, the four-time Grade 1 winner and champion juvenile of 2022, sired his first reported foal this week when a filly was born late Wednesday, January 8th at Darby Dan Farm in Lexington.
“We purchased the mare in November in foal to Forte. Couldn’t be happier with the result, this is a very nice maiden foal. Flashy filly with a lot of leg,” said Charlie McKinlay, Farm Manager at Darby Dan.
Campaigned by Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable, Forte became one of the most accomplished 2-year-old champions in racing history. He broke his maiden on debut going five furlongs at Belmont in May of his 2-year-old season, earning “Rising Star” honors by the Thoroughbred Daily News. The striking dark bay colt went on to capture three consecutive Grade 1 victories, including Saratoga’s biggest juvenile race – the Hopeful Stakes (G1) – going away, and Keeneland’s biggest juvenile race – the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) in his first try around two turns.
Trained by Todd Pletcher, Forte punctuated a championship season with a win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Keeneland, earning him the 2022 Eclipse Award for Champion 2-Year-Old Male. His 243 votes represented the most for any horse in any category, including Flightline.
Forte entered his 3-year-old season as a heavy early favorite for the Kentucky Derby. He dominated the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream in his sophomore debut, before defeating eventual Kentucky Derby winner Mage in Gulfstream’s prestigious Florida Derby (G1) – his fourth Grade 1 triumph. Forte went on to capture the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) before retiring to Spendthrift with earnings of $3,029,830.
In his first season at stud in 2024, Forte covered a full book of 196 mares. His 2.54 Comparable Index (CI) represented the highest quality book for a first-season stallion. Forte is set to stand his second season for a fee of $45,000 S&N. For more information about Forte, please contact Des, Mark, Brian or Daniel at 859-294-0030.