Honor Marie

Honor Marie won his maiden race in his career debut in a six-furlong race for 2-year-olds at Churchill Downs on Sept. 29, 2023. He extended to seven furlongs in his second career race and caught a sloppy track at Churchill Downs and finished second in a nine-horse allowance field on Oct. 29.

Honor Marie moved up into stakes company for his third career start and was victorious in the Grade 2 $400,000 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs on Nov. 25. After sitting back in last in an eight-horse field for the first half of the race, Honor Marie began to make a move at the quarter pole and passed the entire field in last-to-first fashion to score by two lengths. The Kentucky Jockey Club is regarded as a key early prep race on the road to the following spring's Kentucky Derby.

Honor Marie made his 3-year-old debut in the Grade 2 $400,000 Risen Star Stakes going 1 1/8 miles at Fair Grounds on Feb. 17, 2024. Honor Marie finished fifth in a 12-horse field and earned another five Kentucky Derby qualifying points. Honor Marie improved in his second start as a 3-year-old in his next start in the $1 million Grade 2 Louisiana Derby going 1 3/16 miles at Fair Grounds on March 23. Honor Maris closed from near the rear of an 11-horse field in the Louisiana Derby and got up to finish second, beaten a length. The Louisiana Derby was a maximum points prep race on the road to the Kentucky Derby, and with his runner-up finish, Honor Marie earned 50 qualifying Derby points for a total of 65.

Honor Marie was bred in Kentucky by the sire Honor Code out of the mare Dame Marie by Smart Strike.