D. Whitworth “Whit” Beckman has been a coach since 2021. He’s despatched out a modest 220 starters within the interim and owns 29 wins with earnings of $2.6 million by way of June 4. However relating to main New York stakes, he is aware of in addition to anybody what goes into creating the type of horses who win these races.
That training was a part of what Beckman discovered whereas working as an assistant coach for each Todd Pletcher and Chad Brown, who’ve mixed to dominate the New York Racing Affiliation circuit for practically twenty years and have 12 Eclipse Awards between them.
Working at Saratoga Race Course for Pletcher and at Belmont Park for Brown, Beckman’s identify could not have been in this system, however the Louisville native was part of dozens of Grade 1 wins over the course of 11 years.
“New York is the place I went to get my training,” Beckman mentioned. “Folks informed me it was the fitting factor to do if I wished to immerse myself within the sport. Kentucky was not fairly what’s it now, and I used to be fortunate sufficient to get a job with Todd after which Chad.”
Now primarily based again house in Kentucky, Beckman, 42, has returned to New York this week hoping to emulate what he noticed Brown and Pletcher do on so many events.
He will probably be sending out Honor Marie within the June 8 Belmont Stakes Introduced by NYRA Bets. Beckman is searching for his preliminary Grade 1 win within the $2 million Triple Crown finale with the historic backdrop of the primary Belmont on the Spa.
“I’ve been round these races earlier than, however to be right here alone is fairly particular,” he mentioned.
Pletcher and Brown mentioned they weren’t stunned that Beckman has already developed a Triple Crown candidate.
“He did a terrific job for us,” mentioned Brown, a four-time Eclipse Award winner who was Beckman’s boss from 2016 to 2021. “Additionally working for Todd, he was with operations that uncovered him to plenty of good horses. It’s no shock to me that he has a horse in a race like this. He’s very skilled and his horse might doubtlessly run very nicely.”
Pletcher mentioned Beckman was a tough employee and an astute scholar of the commerce throughout his 2007 to 2013 tenure with the secure.
“There’s nothing like expertise,” Pletcher mentioned. “Should you can work for a coach with a excessive quantity of horses, it places you able the place you’re extra concerned within the decision-making course of than you’ll with a small barn. I feel it prepares you nicely.”
Honor Marie, a 3-year-old son of Honor Code, gave Beckman his first graded stakes win within the Kentucky Jockey Membership Stakes final 12 months.
This 12 months, Honor Marie is 0-for-3. He was fifth behind Belmont Stakes morning-line favourite Sierra Leone — skilled by Brown — within the Risen Star Stakes after which was a fast-closing second within the Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby.
His one-length loss to Catching Freedom within the 1 3/16-mile Louisiana Derby created a buzz earlier than the Kentucky Derby concerning the colt bred by Royce Pulliam in Kentucky out of the Good Strike mare Dame Marie. However Beckman’s first Triple Crown race on the helm rapidly became a nightmare.
Honor Marie was jostled arduous popping out of the gate and was twentieth and final after six furlongs within the mile-and-a-quarter traditional.
“As quickly because the gates opened, I knew our possibilities have been taken away from us,” Beckman mentioned. “The Derby is simply such a melee.”
Honor Marie rallied to complete eighth however was 13 1/2 lengths behind the victorious Mystik Dan.
Since then, Honor Marie has bounced again and skilled well, convincing Beckman to return to the circuit the place his training in racing lifted off. Ought to he win, he could be the twelfth horse since 2000 to run within the Kentucky Derby, take 5 weeks off after which win the Belmont.
“It’s mind-boggling how nicely he got here out of the Derby. He’s a troublesome little horse. I like the whole lot about him,” Beckman mentioned about his late-running colt. “Will probably be thrilling to see what he can do with out 20 horses in the way in which.”
Even Beckman had a troubled 2024 Derby. About 10 days previous to the race, he was hospitalized with rhabdomyolysis, a illness that impacts muscle tissue and kidneys and might making strolling troublesome.
“It’s like how a horse ties up. Your muscle tissue break down and it releases some form of compound that impacts your kidneys. It’s painful. My legs have been actually sore and I couldn’t stroll for about 20 hours,” Beckman mentioned. “I’ve been in a hyperbaric chamber, getting myself the identical remedy I give my horse.
“Hopefully, it is going to be a greater week for each of us.”
