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    In the hopes of winning the Kentucky Derby, hopefuls tune up at Churchill Downs and Palm Meadows
In the hopes of winning the Kentucky Derby, hopefuls tune up at Churchill Downs and Palm Meadows
Palm Meadows. Source: Paulic Report

In the hopes of winning the Kentucky Derby, hopefuls tune up at Churchill Downs and Palm Meadows

On a chilly Sunday morning at Churchill Downs, Honour Marie and Track Phantom, who finished second and fourth, respectively, in the TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (G2), resumed their training sessions in preparation for the historic 150th edition of the $5-million Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 4.

By 7:30 a.m. (ET), Honour Marie effortlessly covered a strong half-mile in:47.80, while Track Phantom comfortably finished five furlongs in 1:02 two hours prior.

Honour Marie, owned by Ribble Farms, Michael Eiserman, Earl Silver, Kenneth and Dave Fishbein, demonstrated her skills outside of the recent Turfway Park maiden, particularly weight champion Anthem King. The pair started their task with consistent quarter-mile intervals of 12.20 and 24.20. Honour Marie crossed the finish line ahead of her colleague and smoothly completed five furlongs in 1:01.60, as reported by Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols.

Honour Marie is set to embark on his third race of the year as a 3-year-old in the prestigious Kentucky Derby. Following a victorious run in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) as a 2-year-old, Honour Marie recently made his debut this year in the Risen Star at Fair Grounds, securing a fifth-place finish behind Sierra Leone. He came back after five weeks to compete in the Louisiana Derby (G2) and secured the second position, narrowly missing out on victory to Catching Freedom. 

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