Kentucky Derby alumni update: White Abarrio, Honor Marie, Just Steel add intrigue to marquee cards at Gulfstream and Oaklawn

Mar 28, 2025 Sara Dacus/TwinSpires.com

White Abarrio wins the Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park. (Photo by Coglianese Photo / Credit to Lauren King)

The Florida Derby (G1) and the Arkansas Derby (G1) are the next 100-point races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, and both stakes-laden undercards provide Kentucky Derby alumni opportunities to shine.

White Abarrio returns after his dominant 6 1/4-length victory in the star-studded Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. (G1). He returns as the overwhelming 1-9 morning line favorite in the Ghostzapper S. (G3) at Gulfstream Park, with Irad Ortiz Jr. back aboard.

Gulfstream is the home base for the gray horse, who secured his spot in the 2022 Kentucky Derby with wins in the  Holy Bull S. (G3) and Florida Derby. His résumé also includes Grade 1 wins in the Whitney S. at Saratoga and the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic. Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. hopes the Ghostzapper S. will serve as a stepping stone toward the Met Mile (G1) at Saratoga.

The Ghostzapper is one of 10 stakes races—five graded—on the 14-race program. Joseph also saddles Neoequos in the Florida Derby, while the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) offers Kentucky Oaks qualifying points.

At Oaklawn Park, Honor Marie makes his highly anticipated four-year-old debut in the American Pharoah Overnight S. Trainer Whit Beckman has taken a patient approach with the colt, who has not raced since finishing fourth in the Belmont S. (G1) and an unplaced effort in the Travers S. (G1).

Honor Marie provided Beckman with the first graded stakes victory of his career in the Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2), closing out the colt’s two-year-old season. As a sophomore, Honor Marie solidified his Derby credentials with a runner-up finish in the Louisiana Derby (G2).

Just Steel, runner-up in the 2024 Arkansas Derby, is cross-entered in two races on Oaklawn’s card: the Eclipse Overnight S. and the Oaklawn Mile S. (G3). He is trained by Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas.

A son of Triple Crown winner Justify, Just Steel faced early trouble in the Kentucky Derby when he was bumped. He recovered to show early speed but faded to 17th. He returned in the Preakness S. (G1) and finished fifth, but a right front leg fracture sidelined him for the rest of the year. As a four-year-old, he has made two unplaced starts at Oaklawn.

Lukas will saddle Bestfriend Rocket in the Arkansas Derby. The program features six stakes races, including the Fantasy S. (G2), a key Kentucky Oaks prep.