Promising Beckman fillies appear destined for duel

After Her Laugh turned in an especially encouraging workout on Jan. 19 at Fair Grounds, the filly’s trainer, Whit Beckman, leaned toward shipping the 3-year-old to Oaklawn Park, where she was entered in the Martha Washington Stakes. Instead, Her Laugh stayed home this past weekend, breezing five furlongs in 1:02 on Sunday.

Her Laugh won her debut sprinting at Churchill Downs and ran her record to 2 for 2 stretching to two turns in the $100,000 Untapable on Dec. 21. The same day, another Beckman-trained filly, Simply Joking, debuted in the six-furlong Letellier. She won that race and came back with an impressive score over a route of ground in the Silverbulletday on Jan. 18.

While the two fillies came off the farm together and have worked in company many times, Beckman has focused on separating them in races. That might not be possible now, with Simply Joking already headed for the Feb. 15 Rachel Alexandra and Her Laugh a possible runner in the same race.

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A third Beckman filly, Drexel Hill, finished third in the Silverbulletday but will leave Louisiana for her next start, either for the Cincinnati Trophy on Feb. 21 at Turfway Park or the March 1 Busher at Aqueduct.

Meanwhile, Honor Marie, among the better 3-year-old dirt route horses of 2024, has worked twice preparing for his first start since a dull showing Aug. 24 in the Travers. Winner of the Kentucky Jockey Club and second in the Louisiana Derby, Honor Marie worked three furlongs Feb. 17 and then a half-mile in 50.20 on Sunday.

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