2024 Kentucky Derby Clocker: Honor Marie shows unexpected early speed

CHURCHILL DOWNS
Thursday, April 25
Weather: Clear
Temperature: 45
Track: Fast

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Louisiana Derby runner-up Honor Marie showed off a somewhat surprising turn of speed Thursday morning at Churchill Downs while at the same time kicking off what promises to be an extremely busy several days on the Kentucky Derby workout watch. Honor Marie completed five furlongs in a bullet 59.13 seconds under clear and crisp skies on a racetrack yielding relatively faster than usual times.

With jockey Ben Curtis aboard, Honor Marie teamed up with his graded stakes-placed stablemate Agoo to complete their opening three-eighths split in a crisp 35.15 while working during the special 15-minute window reserved for Derby and Oaks runners and their workmates immediately after the first renovation break.

Honor Marie ultimately seized control and edged away from his overmatched partner when roused by Curtis through the final sixteenth of a mile, hitting the wire four lengths best before continuing solo into the clubhouse turn. He galloped out six panels in 1:12.78 and eased up after seven-eighths in 1:27.89.

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It was interesting to take note of the early foot on display from Honor Marie considering his running style would not have suggested that type of work to be in the offing. In the Louisiana Derby, he rallied from next to last after the opening half-mile.

Otherwise, it was a pretty routine morning for the 2024 Derby cast, the majority keeping to their regular schedules exiting their most recent works. At this point they are trying to just maintain their form heading into the all-important final Derby preps slated to take place here over the next several mornings. Encino, Resilience, and Dornoch were among those making very favorable impressions once again on Thursday.

Fierceness had another good morning, his third in a row since arriving at Churchill over the weekend, and should draw a big crowd Friday when getting in his final pre-Derby breeze, with regular rider John Velazquez aboard.

Honor Marie’s work was sandwiched between those of three potential Kentucky Oaks starters, the most noteworthy coming from Ashland winner Leslie’s Rose, whose 49.75 half-mile breeze was far more impressive than the final time suggests.

With jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. in the saddle, Leslie’s Rose cruised through an opening quarter in a leisurely 25.75, finished strongly without need of prodding to the wire, then did her best running into and around the turn, completing five furlongs in 1:02.03 before easing up six panels in 1:14.18.

Leslie’s Rose is an improving and very dangerous member of a very strong Oaks lineup now that she’s shown the ability to relax and harness the early speed she brought to the table in her first couple of starts.

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Tapit Jenallie appeared to be in maintenance mode today, cruising an easy half-mile in 25.03 and 49.57 before continuing out five-eighths into the clubhouse turn in 1:02.92 for trainer Eddie Milligan Jr. with regular pilot Manny Esquivel aboard.

A half-dozen Oaks contenders are scheduled to join Fierceness on Friday morning’s local tab. The group includes Tarifa, Thorpedo Anna, Gin Gin, Into Champagne, potential favorite Ways and Means, and Manama Gold.

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