According to a statement released April 2 by Equibase, the final time for Saturday's Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park won by Forte , has been adjusted from 1:48.51 to 1:49.37.
Reasoning given for the change was that "the finish line beam may have been inadvertently tripped before the horses reached the wire." The final eighth time was also adjusted from 12:16 to 13:02. None of the other times were changed.
Please see the attached statement regarding the final time for Saturday’s Florida Derby. pic.twitter.com/uUIUILrmJm
— Equibase (@Equibase) April 2, 2023
The error was first found by the Beyer Speed Figure team which believed the final time was too fast. TimeformUS's Craig Milkowski says he received a message from the Daily Racing Form's David Aragona, who first brought the issue to his attention. From there, Milkowski worked with NBC Sports' Randy Moss to retime the race, where he discovered the discrepancy. After review, the colt's Beyer was lowered from 98 to 95.
The studious @HorseToWatch awoke me from my Sunday slumber with alarming news that the Florida Derby was mistimed in his opinion. I have verified he is spot on as usual. The speed figures I put out last night will almost assuredly by changed. More to come...
— Craig Milkowski (@CraigMilkowski) April 2, 2023
With the win, Forte took home 100 additional points towards a start in the May 6 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs. Trained by Todd Pletcher for Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable, the colt is 6-0-0 from seven starts. He is currently at the top of the Derby leaderboard with 190 points while Angel of Empire sits in second with 154 points, Two Phil's in third with 123 points, and Japanese contender Derma Sotogake in fourth with 100.
