LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Honor Marie is a Kentucky Derby contender who will likely get some local backing, thanks in part to a first-time Derby trainer who's from Louisville and has been building toward this opportunity. 

Whit Beckman has been working with Derby horses for years, both as an assistant trainer for Todd Pletcher and more recently Chad Brown. Beckman went out on his own several months after the 2021 Derby and now he's back with Honor Marie.

Honor Marie brings some local flavor to the Derby

He has won two races at Churchill Downs and is trained by a local first-time Derby trainer. (WDRB photo)

"I spent some time with some hall of fame caliber guys where I got a tremendous amount of experience, especially around horses like this," Beckman said. "Hopefully if I can repeat any of the success they've had, we'll be talking year after year."

Honor Marie was second in his last start at the Louisiana Derby. He seems to like things at Churchill Downs. He has two wins and a second in three starts at the track, including a win in the grade two Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes in November.  

He put in his final work before next Saturday's race on Thursday, going five furlongs in :59.20 with his race rider Ben Curtis aboard. 

"There was no negatives," Curtis said. "Everything was positive coming out of it. The horse feels fantastic and I think that will leave him perfect going into the race."  

This will be the first Derby ride for Curtis, a native of Ireland who recently decided to try his hand racing in the U.S. after riding in England for most of the last decade.

"I made the decision in February," Curtis said. "It was a big decision to make, a bold one. But things have been going well and you've got to try things to be going forward. So never turn down an opportunity and for the moment it looks like a good decision." 

And it's a big opportunity for Beckman, the even-keeled St. Xavier grad and son of an equine veterinarian.

"We grew up here and it's cool, a lot of people reaching out and saying how proud they are," Beckman said. "It's cool to be able to share this experience with my family, my friends, the people I grew up with and you know to say I started 20 years ago, working in that barn, maybe a little more, 27 with Walter Bender and now to be here getting interviewed for the Derby, Yeah, it's cool. 

It is a somewhat unusual name for a colt. Here's where it comes from. His father was Honor Code. His mother was Dame Marie and the Ribbles, who are part owners have a granddaughter named Marie so it was to honor her as well. They said she's 9 years old and when they named the horse, they told her if the horse made it to the Kentucky Derby (wink, wink), she'd get to go and she didn't forget. She'll be here for the big race to root on Honor Marie."

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