There were rumors all week that the Todd Pletcher trainee would be scratched but the hall of fame trainer dismissed those notions. However, in a break from his normal routine, Pletcher galloped the horse around 7:45 a.m. as state veterinarians watched. Dr. Nick Smith then talked to Pletcher and Mike Repole, co-owner of the horse, and they decided to scratch the horse.

This reduced the Kentucky Derby field to 18.

Pletcher’s normal race-day routine is to have the horse walk the shed row. So, when he went to the track to gallop, everyone knew something was amiss.

Talk about Forte’s health began to swirl on Thursday after the 3-year-old colt took an unusual step during a gallop on Thursday. Pletcher called it a “bobble” and dismissed it.

This is the first scratch of a favorite since 2009 when I Want Revenge was taken out of the race with a bad ankle.

The other horses that have scratched from Saturday’s race were Practical Move, Continuar, Lord Miles and Skinner.