Special Noon Post at Laurel for Kentucky Derby Day Saturday
David Joseph/Maryland Jockey Club
LAUREL, Md. – Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable’s four-time Grade 1-winning champion Forte continues to lead the way as the inaugural Preakness Future Wager enters its homestretch.
Forte was the 7-2 favorite among 25 individual horses and a field entry of “all other 3-year-olds” following the close of live racing Friday at Laurel Park. The Preakness Future wager opened Friday, April 28 and closes at 6 p.m. Saturday, less than an hour before post time for the Kentucky Derby (G1).
Winner of the Hopeful (G1), Champagne (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) during his 2-year-old championship season and the Fountain of Youth (G2) and Florida Derby (G1) to open 2023, Forte is the program favorite to give Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher his third career Derby victory.
A total of $237,357 was in the win pool after Friday’s ninth race at Laurel Park was made official.
Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Angel of Empire remained second choice in the Preakness Future Wager at 9-1, joined by Lexington (G3) winner First Mission. Forte’s Blue Grass (G1)-winning stablemate Tapit Trice was fourth at 11-1. The field entry was ninth of 27 betting interests at 19-1.
The 148th Preakness Stakes (G1), Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown, will be run Saturday, May 20 at historic Pimlico Race Course. Chase the Chaos, sitting at 60-1 in the Preakness Future Wager, and Red Route One (30-1) have already earned berths in the Preakness field by virtue of respective qualifying victories in the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields and Bath House Row at Oaklawn Park.
Laurel will open its doors at 10 a.m. Saturday and have a special noon post for its live 11-race program. Post time at Churchill Downs is 10:30 a.m. with a 6:57 p.m. post for the Kentucky Derby (G1) in Race 12.
