Photo:

Gonzalo Anteliz Jr. / Eclipse Sportswire

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 at Darby Dan Farm in Lexington.

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.

“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. The son of Violence broke his maiden on debut going five furlongs at Belmont in May of his 2-year-old season. 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. He also won 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 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 the Florida Derby (G1), his fourth Grade 1 triumph. Forte was scratched from the Kentucky Derby but went on to finish second in the Belmont Stakes and win the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2). In his final start, he finished fourth in the Travers (G1). He retired to Spendthrift with a 10: 7-1-0 career record and earnings of $3,029,830.