LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Forte, who was named last year’s 2-year-old champion, has won six of his seven races. He is regally bred, trained by a Hall of Famer and ridden by the nation’s top jockey. So no wonder Forte is the 3-1 morning-line favorite for the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday.
But all those positives fail to comfort Mike Repole, Forte’s co-owner. In 2011, Repole had to scratch another 2-year-old champion, Uncle Mo, the day before America’s greatest race. The colt had come down with a gastrointestinal infection.
“I’m 0 for 7 in the Derby,” Repole said.