They may not have taken home the trophy and flower garland of the Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots March 23, but the connections of Honor Marie and Track Phantom still had quite a bit to celebrate after the race as their colts qualified for the bigger prize: a start in the $5 million Kentucky Derby (G1) May 4 at Churchill Downs.
“You always have it as the vision and you have a process and trust that it is going to get you there,” said Whit Beckman, trainer of Louisiana Derby runner-up Honor Marie. “I don’t want to be saying I’m so surprised because ultimately it’s what we’re trying to do, but at the same time, it’s incredible.”
Honor Marie will be the first starter in the Kentucky Derby for Beckman, who began his training career in 2021, but the experience will not be entirely new for the former Todd Pletcher and Chad Brown assistant. Beckman was part of the Pletcher team that won the Derby in 2010 with Super Saver and Brown team that ran second with Good Magic in 2018. That experience will help shape his plans for Honor Marie going forward.
“Everyone is an individual but fundamentally we’re trying to do the same thing,” Beckman said. “I have a plan in mind and I’ll let the horse dictate whether or not that’s going to come to full fruition on my schedule or his.”
Honor Marie will leave Fair Grounds the afternoon of March 26 and arrive at Churchill Downs the following morning. Beckman said he hasn’t penciled in dates for his works yet, but he will likely give him at least two weeks before returning to the tab.
Owned by Ribble Farms, Michael Eiserman, Earl Silver, Kenneth Fishbein, and Daniel Fishbein, Honor Marie began his career with three starts at Churchill Downs that included a win Nov. 25 in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2). However, Beckman pointed out that he has never trained at Churchill itself, having all his recorded works last summer and fall at the nearby Churchill Training Track.
“We’ll see how he gets over the track, how he’s handling everything over there,” Beckman said. “He’s easy-going, quiet. Nothing has ever bothered him.”
Leaving the same day for Churchill Downs is L and N Racing, Clark Brewster, Jerry Caroom, and Breeze Easy’s Louisiana Derby fourth-place finisher Track Phantom. Despite finishing off the board, Track Phantom earned enough qualifying points through a consistent presence on the Derby trail in Louisiana that included wins in the Gun Runner and Lecomte (G3) and a runner-up finish in the Risen Star (G2).
“It was solid, but we need more,” said trainer Steve Asmussen of the Louisiana Derby performance. “He’s a quality horse that puts forth a very good effort. He’s steadily getting a touch faster as far as his numbers are concerned. Maybe once, he won’t draw the far outside as he has four races in a row.”
Track Phantom is all systems go for the Kentucky Derby.
“Anything other than 100% would be a big surprise from him,” Asmussen said. “We’ve been unbelievably fortunate in the soundness area. He’s very straightforward, trains beautifully every day.”
Asmussen said he’ll watch the weather, but would expect Track Phantom’s first work over the Churchill Downs track April 7.
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