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Honor Marie Breezes at Fair Grounds Ahead of Risen Star

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kevin Kilroy
Media Relations
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  • Nine probable for the first Derby prep race on the calendar to offer 50-25-15-10-5 points
  •  Fair Grounds adjusts Saturday’s post times due to forecasted inclement weather


New Orleans, La (Feb. 1, 2024) –  On Monday, Jan. 29, Honor Marie put in his fifth local work since arriving at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. After winning the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) on Churchill Downs “Stars of Tomorrow II” card, trainer Whit Beckman circled the 1 1/8 miles $400,000 Risen Star (G2) on Feb. 17 for the son of Honor Code’s next start. Honor Marie posted his first local morning breeze on Dec. 31.

“He’s been training well throughout the winter down here, we’re very happy with his overall condition,” Beckman said.

After posting a :59.60 5-furlong bullet with Jareth Loveberry aboard in his previous work, this week Honor Marie covered the same distance in 1:01.60, 8th fastest of 39. In both works, he went in company with Drip, his unraced stablemate and peer.

“Not as quick as last week, by design, but a solid work nonetheless,” Beckman said.

Honor Marie currently has 10 points on the road to the $5 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve.

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Louisiana Derby Preview Day is Saturday, Feb. 17. The program features six-stakes, and all eyes will be on the Risen Star. The first prep race on the calendar to offer 50-25-15-10-5 points towards a spot in the Kentucky Derby 150 starting gates, currently nine 3-year-olds are “probable” for the 1 1/8 miles affair. Along with Honor Marie, they are as follows: Track Phantom (Steve Asmussen), Hall of Fame (Asmussen), Catching Freedom (Brad Cox), Sierra Leone (Chad Brown), Resilience (Bill Mott), Moonlight (Todd Pletcher), Snead (Brendan Walsh), and Real Men Violin (Ken McPeek). 

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Officials from Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots announced adjusted post times for the 10-race card on Saturday, Feb. 3 due to forecasted inclement weather.

First post remains at 12:45 p.m. (all times Central). Saturday’s races are now scheduled as follows:

Race 1 – 12:45 p.m.
Race 2 – 1:11 p.m.
Race 3 – 1:37 p.m.
Race 4 – 2:03 p.m.
Race 5 – 2:29 p.m.
Race 6 – 2:55 p.m.
Race 7 – 3:21 p.m.
Race 8 – 3:47 p.m.
Race 9 – 4:13 p.m.
Race 10 – 4:39 p.m.

The racing week concludes on Sunday, Feb. 4 with an 8-race program that begins at 12:45 p.m. as originally scheduled.

 

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About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots

Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, one of the nation’s oldest racetracks, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, LA, Fair Grounds, which is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN), also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 16 off-track betting parlors throughout Southeast Louisiana. The 152nd Thoroughbred Racing Season–highlighted by the 111th running of the Louisiana Derby–will run from Nov. 17, 2023 through March 24, 2024. More information is available online at www.fgno.com.

 

 

 

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