Champion Forte's First Foal Arrives at Darby Dan Farm

The first reported foal by Spendthrift Farm's multiple grade 1 winner and 2022 champion juvenile male Forte was born Jan. 8 at Darby Dan Farm near Lexington. Gary Holland's Kamden Favorites bred the dark bay or brown filly, who is the first foal out of the Collected mare Gravy, a half sister to stakes winners Financial Recovery and Blue Heart and three other stakes-placed winners. "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 Stables, Forte won three consecutive grade 1 races as a 2-year-old: the Hopeful Stakes (G1), Breeders' Futurity (G1), and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1). The Breeders' Cup win cemented his title as the year's champion 2-year-old male. At 3, Forte won the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) and the Florida Derby (G1) but missed the Kentucky Derby (G1) after being scratched due to a mending bruised foot. He finished second in the Belmont Stakes (G1) and won 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 represented the highest quality book for a first-season stallion. Forte is set to stand his second season for a fee of $45,000.