Forbidden Kingdom

Forbidden Kingdom earned his first graded stakes win on Jan. 29, 2022, when he won the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita Park by 2 1/4 lengths. He set the early pace and fended off all challenges in the stretch for an impressive win, covering seven furlongs in 1:22.75.

Based on that win, Forbidden Kingdom was the even-money favorite in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita on Mar. 5. He had no trouble stretching out his speed, opening up a long early lead and holding clear late to win by 5 3/4 lengths and cement his credentials as a strong the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve contender. Those dreams were dashed, however, when he emerged from a last-of-six finish in the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby with a swollen throat. In June 2022, he missed another stretch of training with a bout of colic. 

Forbidden Kingdom took a layoff for several months and returned to the racetrack on Oct. 1, 2022. He attempted several stakes races for the next year and got back into the win column in the closing days of 2023 when he won the Grade 2 $200,000 Joe Hernandez Stakes on Dec. 30 going 6 1/2 furlongs on the downhill turf course at Santa Anita. In the Joe Hernandez Stakes, Forbidden Kingdom battled for the lead and went wire-to-wire to top a 12-horse field by a half a length.

Forbidden Kingdom sold for $300,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase in 2020. He's a son of 2015 Triple Crown champion American Pharoah, out of the  graded stakes winning mare Just Louise.