A longtime assistant for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, Whit Beckman seems to have picked up the knack for getting 3-year-old Thoroughbreds to Churchill Downs on the first weekend in May, even early in his training career.
While Pletcher is preparing River Thames and Grande to become his record-extending 66th and 67th starters, Flying Mohawk is set to become Beckman's second in the Kentucky Derby (G1) in as many years. Beckman began training a Kentucky-based stable in 2021.
"We got to run in it; that's a pretty big honor," Beckman said about finishing eighth in 2024 with Honor Marie. "Coming from Louisville and getting to be part of the race—which only 20 horses a year get to—to be part of that two years in a row is awesome, but there's no expectations going into it. I want to win, but at the end of the day, there's a lot I can't account for."
One of the unaccountable scenarios Beckman referred to was Honor Marie getting jostled around at the start of the Derby last year, which Beckman said ended chances of victory just a few strides into the race as the closer was shuffled even further back than usual.
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Perhaps Honor Marie can give Flying Mohawk a tip or two about navigating the chaos of the Kentucky Derby as the pair have become training partners with three weeks until the big race. Beckman's two Derby horses worked side by side April 12 while clocking an easy half-mile in :50 4/5 before galloping out five furlongs in 1:03 2/5.
"It was their first work back since they both ran. We were just looking for something smooth, steady, get them off the bench," Beckman said. "They both looked good and happy with how it went. Nothing quick, nice and smooth. Both horses look great coming back."
Aboard Flying Mohawk was jockey Joseph Ramos, who piloted the Karakontie colt to his runner-up effort in the March 29 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3). Beckman confirmed that Ramos, leading rider at Horseshoe Indianapolis in both 2022 and 2023, will retain the mount for his first Derby ride.
"He rode him beautifully in the Jeff Ruby and I see no reason to make a change," Beckman said. "I've used Joe a lot over the years in Indiana. The kid always gives me 110%. I'm really happy with how he handles things."
Flying Mohawk's lack of a race on dirt in six starts will likely lead to him being a big long shot on Derby day for owners Two Eight Racing, Berry Family Racing, and Kaleta Racing. However, he has breezed on the dirt in all but three official recorded works since his first in May 2024.
"He's always worked really well on it," Beckman said. "His pedigree and some of his physical attributes had us spotting him on the turf early on. He's strengthened up a lot since his 2-year-old year and has come through. In New Orleans he was putting up pretty strong works."
The question mark on whether that dirt training will carry over to the races is another reason why Honor Marie, who Beckman called a solid dirt and work horse, was the choice to show the Flying Mohawk the ropes. The use of a grade 2 winner as a training partner is also a sign of the strengthening quality in Beckman's barn in just his fourth full year on his own.
"It makes it a lot easier," Beckman said about being able to train stakes horses with other stakes horses. "When I was first stabled here, I had four horses, and I didn't have any horses that could work together. It made things a lot trickier. As you grow and get horses coming up the same paths, similar types, it makes it a lot easier. It makes it easier to find that workmate that will be the best partner for each individual horse relative to where they're pointing."
Beckman now has about 40 horses in training, about a 10-15-horse increase since Honor Marie entered the Derby gate one year ago. He said that he can't say for certain that his presence in the Derby is the reason for the growth, but it certainly doesn't hurt.
"Everybody sees you can put horses in big races and do it with some consistency," Beckman said. "I think that's a draw for any trainer."
His showcase this year is not limited to the Derby as he has a pair of entrants for the May 2 Kentucky Oaks (G1) as well in Grantley Acres, Ryan Conner, and Berkels0813's Simply Joking and Legion Racing's Drexel Hill. The pair breezed a half-mile early Saturday morning in :48 3/5 together while galloping out five furlongs in 1:00 4/5.
"It was great. They were fantastic," Beckman said. "Galloped out extremely well, very happy with that."
Regardless of how Flying Mohawk runs, his presence in the Derby alongside multiple Oaks starters again points a spotlight on Beckman early in his career. The Louisville, Ky., native hopes that this trend will continue.
"Every time all those babies come in, I want to have my expectations to end up in these kinds of races," Beckman said. "Whether that's going to be the Derby, you hope. We all dream about it. This is where I grew up and I want to be in the Derby every year. After last year, I was like, 'I want to do that again.' And here we are doing it again.
"Do we have the favorite? No. But we still have a horse that earned his way into the race. No matter where he's run or what he's done, this is a race that long shots can win. This is not something that we go in hopeless. I get that we're going to be the longest shot on the board, but the horse doesn't know that."
