Mike Repole, Queens native and Forte proprietor, in search of first Kentucky Derby title
There’s a transparent favourite on prime of oddsmakers’ boards for The Run for the Roses this yr: Kentucky’s personal Forte, who’s a 3/1 to win the 149th Derby this night.
Forte’s proprietor? Queens, New York native Mike Repole, who resides out a childhood dream this weekend in Louisville.
Repole, the proprietor of Repole Stables, grew up going to the Aqueduct Racetrack within the World’s Borough.
The son of a seamstress and waiter, Repole by no means thought he’d someday be capable to a lot attend the Kentucky Derby.
“It is a dream,” Repole said in an interview with America’s Best Racing. “I’m a child from Queens. I’m not purported to even come to this race, by no means thoughts personal a horse within the race, by no means thoughts personal the Derby favourite with good buddy and associate Vinnie Viola. So, every little thing is such a bonus, man.”
Earlier than entering into the horse racing enterprise, Repole constructed a fortune because the co-founder of Glaceau, the corporate that created Smartwater and Vitaminwater, and BODYARMOR SuperDrink, which offered to Coca-Cola for practically $10 billion.
“I understand how onerous it’s simply to get this far,” Repole mentioned. “Individuals ask me, ‘What’s the secret sauce to your success?’ The reply is easy. I labored 18 hours a day seven days per week for 30 years. It actually comes right down to sacrifice, work ethic, and placing within the time.”
Repole Secure is approaching practically 20 years within the horse racing business.
Maybe the closest Repole received to taking house a Kentucky Derby trophy got here in 2011, when he owned Uncle Mo, the 2-year-old champion of 2010 and favourite within the weeks main as much as the race.
However the day earlier than, Repole was compelled to scratch Uncle Mo, who was later recognized with a liver dysfunction.
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Seven completely different horses of Repole’s have entered the Derby since then, however none have completed larger than fifth.
Now, he’s hours away from coming into the race’s favourite.
“It’s sort of come full circle from one 2-year-old champ to a different,” Repole said after Forte won the Florida Derby in April, according to the Daily Racing Form. “The trip of Uncle Mo, the wheels fell off the bus. Every thing that might’ve gone mistaken, went mistaken. It appears, knock on wooden proper now, issues are simply moving into the precise course and [Forte] is getting higher and higher.”