#US RACING: WATCH FORTE WIN THE BREEDERS' CUP JUVENILE

NOTE: VIDEO REPLAY BELOW ARTICLE

WASHINGTON, United States - Forte outraced favored Cave Rock down the stretch for a 1 1/2-length upset victory Friday in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile to become the early 2023 Kentucky Derby favorite.

Todd Pletcher-trained Forte charged late and Cave Rock, weakened by an early challenge from 30-1 longshot Hurricane J, won the 1 1/16th-mile race in 1:43.06.

"The horse deserves the credit. He raced so good," jockey Irad Ortiz said after his 15th career Cup win.

"When it was time to go, as soon as we hit the clear, I hit him once and he started going forward. I knew he was going to be tough to beat."

The US$$2 million dirt showdown topped five opening races for two-year-olds in the two-day, 14-race event worth US$30 million at Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky, as drama builds to Saturday's three-year-olds races, topped by the US$6 million, 1 1/4-mile Breeders' Cup Classic.

Runner-up Cave Rock, an oddsmakers' darling at 2-5, and third-place National Treasure (8-1) were trained by Bob Baffert, who owns a record-tying five Juvenile wins.

"He ran a gallant race. He got beat by a good horse," Baffert said of Cave Rock. "Forte ran a great race and came and got us."

Famed trainer Baffert returned to Kentucky for the first time since being banned by Churchill Downs in the wake of Medina Spirit's failed drugs test after the 2021 Kentucky Derby.

Pletcher won his 13th Breeders Cup race and third in the Juvenile, but wasn't comfortable until 4-1 Forte charged past the Baffert entries in the final strides.

"You know when you get to Bob's horses they are going to find something else," Pletcher said. "I thought we had him but was most happy when he goes by.

"Definitely paid off coming here."