Kentucky Derby notes & video: Honor Marie works 5 furlongs

Honor Marie worked five furlongs in company with stakes-placed stablemate Agoo in 59.20 seconds over a fast track on a chilly Thursday morning at Churchill Downs ahead of next weekend's Kentucky Derby.

With jockey Ben Curtis aboard for trainer Whit Beckman, Honor Marie clicked off fractions of 12.0, 23.8, 35.6, 47.4 and 59.2. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.60 and seven-eighths in 1:27.6. It was the best of 11 workers at the distance.

“Everybody was smiling when I got back to the barn, and a lot of times that doesn’t happen,” Curtis said.

Juvenile champion Fierceness is scheduled to work beneath the Twin Spires Friday morning for the Derby.

Here are Thursday notes on the Kentucky Derby contenders.

Catalytic. Catalytic was back on the track Thursday with an energetic gallop going 1 1/2 miles under exercise rider Olaf Hernandez.

Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., Catalytic arrived at Churchill Downs on Monday morning after vanning from South Florida.

“He’s doing well,” said Tristan Ford, an assistant to Joseph, after the gallop. “Everyone is happy with the way he’s progressing.”

Catalytic, the Florida Derby (G1) runner-up behind probable Kentucky Derby favorite Fierceness, is expected to work this weekend, possibly Sunday.

Catching Freedom, Encino, Just a Touch. Trainer Brad Cox’s Derby trio of Catching Freedom, Encino and Just a Touch had their normal training sessions Thursday at 7:30 a.m., all galloping 1 1/12 miles.

The trio will train between 5:30-6:30 a.m. EDT on Friday and work at 7:30 a.m. Saturday.

Domestic Product, Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone galloped 1 1/2 miles under Kriss Bon and for the second consecutive morning visited the starting gate.

“He did great this morning (at the gate),” trainer Chad Brown said of Sierra Leone, who delayed the start of the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) by being reluctant to load in the gate in front of the Keeneland grandstand.

Domestic Product galloped 1 1/2 miles under Peter Roman.

“He’s feeling good this morning,” Roman said after the morning’s activity was completed.

Dornoch, Society Man. Dornoch galloped 1 1/2 miles with Pricilla Schaefer aboard for trainer Danny Gargan.

Schaefer returned to the track at 9 with Gargan’s other Kentucky Derby hopeful, Society Man, who also galloped 1 1/2 miles.

“He’s strong,” Gargan said as Society Man jogged past a viewing stand heading back to the barn. “He’s a bulldog now.”

Endlessly. Endlessly had a normal training day Thursday, galloping 1 1/2 miles around 5:45 a.m.

The winner of the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) is scheduled to work Saturday.

Fierceness. Fierceness, winner of the Florida Derby (G1) by 13 1/2 lengths in his most recent start, galloped 1 3/8 miles under exercise rider Danny Wright for trainer Todd Pletcher.

The Eclipse Award winner as the champion 2-year-old of 2023, Fierceness is scheduled to work Friday morning at 7:30 with jockey John Velazquez aboard.

Forever Young. Forever Young walked in the mile chute for about an hour under Yusaku Oka before returning the quarantine barn.

Forever Young worked six furlongs in 1:19.60 in company on Wednesday.

Grand Mo the First. Grand Mo the First was en route to Churchill Downs Thursday from Gulfstream Park. Trainer Victor Barboza Jr. said Grand Mo the First was scheduled to arrive here around 9 Thursday night.

Grand Mo the First is scheduled to walk Friday and then go to the track Saturday.

Honor Marie. It was a busy morning outside trainer Whit Beckman’s Barn 37 as his Kentucky Derby hopeful Honor Marie completed his major training toward the first Saturday in May with a strong five-furlong move in 59.2 seconds with jockey Ben Curtis in the irons.

“We can take one breath now that the work is over,” Beckman said about an hour after the 7:30 a.m. breeze. “He came back to the barn and everything was great. The work was great. It reminded me a lot of his work leading up to the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2), except that work was over at (Churchill Downs’) Trackside.”

Honor Marie was partnered in his work with Agoo, a 3-year-old son of Munnings who won a maiden special weight in October at Keeneland. The duo started the move together through a swift opening quarter-mile of 23.8 seconds. As they reached the top of the stretch following three furlongs in 35.6, Honor Marie began to separate from his stablemate and completed his move four lengths in front at the wire. As he galloped out, Honor Marie continued to extend his margin and completed six furlongs in 1:12.6 and finished seven furlongs in 1:27.6, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols.

“Everyone keeps asking me about why I’m not working on a traditional schedule, but I just train each horse individually and not have a certain schedule like every Friday or Saturday or Sunday they work,” Beckman said.

Honor Marie will have a scheduled walk day on Friday.

Just Steel. Just Steel stayed with his traditional early training session and galloped 1 1/2 miles Thursday morning for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas.

“We’re very fortunate to have some solid horses in the barn this year and in both the Kentucky Derby and Oaks (with Lemon Muffin), but I’ve got a great 2-year-old class getting ready to come in the barn,” Lukas said. “Derby 150 is special, but we always have to keep thinking forward.”

Just Steel is scheduled to have one more work prior to the Kentucky Derby.

Mystik Dan. Mystik Dan galloped the usual 1 1/2 miles for trainer Kenny McPeek.

Mystik Dan, the winner of the Southwest (G3) and most recently third in the Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn, is scheduled to work Saturday. Brian Hernandez Jr. has the Derby riding assignment.

Resilience. Resilience had an easy gallop at 7:30 Thursday morning.

Jockey Junior Alvarado has the mount in the Kentucky Derby and is scheduled to ride at Churchill Downs throughout Derby Week.

“It’s great to be here in Kentucky right now,” Alvarado said. “The (Bill Mott) barn has meant a lot for my career.”

Stronghold. Stronghold, trained by Phil D’Amato, galloped 1 1/2 miles Thursday morning with the trainer’s wife, Sherri, aboard.

Winner of the Sunland Derby (G3) and Santa Anita Derby (G1) in his two starts of 2024, Stronghold is scheduled work Sunday morning with Joe Talamo up.

“Sunday is looking like the best day,” D’Amato said of the schedule, which is weather dependent.

T O Password. Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby invitee T O Password is in quarantine in Chicago and scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs early Friday morning.

Track Phantom. Lecomte Stakes (G3) winner Track Phantom returned to his early schedule Thursday for Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, galloping about 1 1/2 miles under exercise rider Roberto Howell at 5:45 a.m.

The son of Quality Road changed training schedules Wednesday when he visited the starting gate at 7:30 a.m. during the Derby-Oaks training session.

West Saratoga. West Saratoga galloped Thursday morning at The Thoroughbred Center in Lexington, Ky.

Trainer Larry Demeritte said West Saratoga would train Friday morning in Lexington and then ship to Churchill Downs with a 2 p.m. arrival anticipated.

Jesus Castanon is scheduled to be aboard for a three-furlong work at Churchill on Saturday.

Also-eligibles. Epic Ride, third in the Blue Grass Stakes (GI) in his most recent start, galloped Thursday morning at The Thoroughbred Center.

Trainer John Ennis said Epic Ride would train in the morning then ship to Churchill Downs Friday evening.

Adam Beschizza would have the Derby mount.

Trainer Jeff Engler reported Mugatu, fifth-place finisher of the Blue Grass, would arrive Friday and have a two-minute lick Saturday morning with jockey Joe Talamo in the irons.