Trainer Todd Pletcher and Forte disqualified from Hopeful due to positive drug test.
Forte has been disqualified from the 2022 GI Hopeful S. due to the presence of meloxicam in his system, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug not approved for racehorses in training. Forte's connections blame the New York State Gaming Commission for the eight-month delay in the case and plan to appeal the decision. Dr. Steven Barker, an expert in equine drug testing, believes the amount of meloxicam found in Forte's blood was due to environmental contamination. Forte will prepare for the June 10 GI Belmont S.