Kentucky Derby Profile: Honor Marie

Honor Marie: Can the Derby Dark Horse Run with the Big Boys?

The 150th Kentucky Derby is upon us, and with it comes a field of talented thoroughbreds all vying to be draped in roses. Among them is Honor Marie, a colt with a captivating story and a running style that makes him a bit of a wildcard.

Trainer: Whit Beckman, first Derby.

Jockey: Ben Curtis, first Derby.

Record: 2-2-0 in five starts

Career earnings: $526,175

Road to the Kentucky Derby points: 65 (No. 13)

Last race: Second in Grade 2 Louisiana Derby on March 23 at Fair Grounds, 1 length behind Catching Freedom

From Bargain Basement to Derby Dreams

Unlike some of his more pedigreed competitors, Honor Marie wasn’t exactly born with a silver horseshoe in his mouth. Purchased for a relatively modest $40,000 at auction, he’s quickly become a favorite for owners Kerry and Alan Ribble. Whit Beckman is hoping Honor Marie, his first stakes winner as a trainer can become his first Classic runner.Beckman prepares Honor Marie for Ribble Farms, Michael Eiserman, Earl Silver, Kenneth Fishbein and Daniel Fishbein.

This rags-to-riches tale is even more heartwarming when you consider his trainer, Whit Beckman. A 2000 graduate of St. Xavier High School, Beckman’s Derby dream is intertwined with Honor Marie’s. All three of Honor Marie’s races as a 2-year-old came at Churchill Downs, where he broke his maiden Sept. 29 and won the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club on Nov. 25. Honor Marie opened his 3-year-old campaign with a fifth-place showing in the Grade 2 Risen Star on Feb. 17 at Fair Grounds. … Beckman is a Louisville native who worked as an assistant for Todd Pletcher, Eoin Harty and Chad Brown before going out on his own in 2021. Honor Marie was Beckman’s first stakes winner.

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A Closer with a Punch

Honor Marie has shown a preference for hanging back in the pack and making a late surge. This closing style has its pros and cons. On the plus side, it allows him to avoid the early race traffic that can sap a horse’s energy. When he finds space, he can unleash a powerful kick, as evidenced by his impressive victory in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes.

However, relying on a final burst also comes with risks. If the pace is too hot early on, he might find himself with too much ground to make up. Additionally, a muddy track – a possibility for Kentucky – could hinder his closing ability. Honor Marie will enter the Kentucky Derby off a second-place finish in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby on March 23 at Fair Grounds. He currently ranks 13th on the Kentucky Derby points leaderboard with 65.

A Derby Contender or a Long Shot?

Experts are placing Honor Marie in the “long shot” category. While his pedigree suggests he can handle the 1 1/4-mile distance, the competition is fierce. Horses like Catching Freedom, who bested him in the Risen Star Stakes, will be tough to outrun. Honor Marie is by the champion older horse Honor Code, a son of A.P. Indy whose progeny include Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) winner Max Player and Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) heroine Maracuja. His dam Dame Marie, a Grade 2 placegetter on turf, is by Smart Strike.

Both A.P. Indy and Smart Strike are noted stamina influences and Honor Marie should have no problem staying 1 1/4 miles in the Kentucky Derby should he get there; the question is more likely whether he is fast enough.

But that’s the beauty of the Derby – anything can happen. Honor Marie’s connection to his trainer and owners, combined with his impressive wins at Churchill Downs, make him a horse with a compelling narrative. Will he end up in the winner’s circle? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure – Honor Marie is a horse to watch on the first Saturday in May. “We know he’s more comfortable closing,” Beckman said. “Hopefully we don’t end up too deep of a closer and we adjust according to what happens when the gates open. For the most part, I know he’s going to be doing his best running late. We just hope everything sets up to give him the best chance possible.”

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