Omaha Beach Returns in Santa Anita Sprint Championship

More than five months after he was scratched as the morning-line favorite for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), Omaha Beach makes his long-awaited return Oct. 5 when he faces the speedy Shancelot and four other foes in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park.

Withdrawn from the Derby because of an entrapped epiglottis, a breathing issue that required minor surgery, he was pointed for a summer return at Del Mar, only to come down with a virus. Then a late-September comeback at Churchill Downs was scrapped after a workout didn't go as planned.

That leaves the $300,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship at six furlongs as the third choice. But it is still an option that appeals to his Hall of Fame trainer, Richard Mandella, despite the colt's lack of experience at the distance. Omaha Beach has made all seven starts from distances of seven furlongs to 1 1/8 miles.

"I was thinking it may be too short," Mandella said. "But now that I have given him a little freshener and blew him out, it may not be too short. He's just a good horse. So maybe fate has forced us into doing something a little better."

If Omaha Beach indeed proves better in a short dash, that could prove an exciting thought given the high standard he set in longer races. After breaking his maiden going seven furlongs in the slop Feb. 2 at Santa Anita, he won a division of the March 16 Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park—gamely defeating juvenile champion Gave Winner—then won the April 13 Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn.

Video: Arkansas Derby (G1)

Finishing 6 3/4 lengths behind him in the Arkansas Derby was none other than third-place Country House, the colt who was awarded victory in the Kentucky Derby after Maximum Security was disqualified for interference.

Mike Smith, aboard for both victories at Oaklawn, will retain the mount in a race that is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, providing automatic entry to the Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita.

Mandella is uncertain whether that will be the race for Omaha Beach, with the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) also under consideration. The colt's performance Saturday could determine which race, if either, to pursue.

"Good horses can do different things," Mandella said. "He always had speed as a younger horse, but I kept it quiet, wanted to get him further because that's where you want to be."

Owned by Rick Porter's Fox Hill Farm, Omaha Beach has a record of 3-3-1 from seven starts and earnings of more than $1.12 million. He is a 3-year-old son of War Front  out of the Seeking the Gold mare Charming, making him a half brother to champion 2-year-old filly Take Charge Brandi and to group 1-placed Courage Under Fire.

To win Saturday, he will need to outrun one of the speedier 3-year-olds in the country in Shancelot, winner of the Amsterdam Stakes (G2) at Saratoga Race Course by 12 1/2 lengths. Jorge Navarro considers him the best horse he has trained from a talented group that includes multimillionaires Private Zone, Sharp Azteca , and X Y Jet.

After winning his first three races—two by commanding margins—Shancelot suffered his first defeat Aug. 24 in the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Presented by Runhappy (G1) at Saratoga when he finished third, beaten a head, in a three-horse photo. Clear in midstretch, he weakened late over the lengthy sprint distance of seven furlongs.

Video: H. Allen Jerkens S. (G1)

The Santa Anita Sprint Championship at three-quarters of a mile better fits his dare-to-catch style. Emisael Jaramillo will ride.

The remaining four entries are light on stakes credentials. One Flew South has won only a maiden race in three starts for earnings of only $17,433, and Flagstaff, California Street, and Horse Greedy step up from allowance-level races.

A half brother to Game Winner by Speightstown , Flagstaff is the sharpest of that group. He was first or second in all three of his starts this year, punctuated by a half-length allowance victory Aug. 18 at Del Mar in which he covered six furlongs in a snappy 1:09.51.

Video: Race 4 (AOC) at DMR on 8/18/19

The Santa Anita Sprint Championship is one of three graded stakes at Santa Anita Saturday. The others are the L.A. Woman Stakes (G3) for female sprinters and the City of Hope Mile Stakes (G2T) for 3-year-olds and up on the grass. Post time for the Santa Anita Sprint Championship is 4:55 p.m. PT.

Entries: Santa Anita Sprint Championship S. (G1)

Santa Anita Park, Saturday, October 05, 2019, Race 9

• Grade I
• 6f
• Dirt
• $300,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 4:55 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1One Flew South (KY)	Evin A. Roman	118	Doug F. O'Neill	30/1
2	2Omaha Beach (KY)	Mike E. Smith	122	Richard E. Mandella	8/5
3	3Shancelot (KY)	Emisael Jaramillo	120	Jorge Navarro	4/5
4	4Flagstaff (KY)	Victor Espinoza	121	John W. Sadler	4/1
5	5California Street (KY)	Drayden Van Dyke	121	Patrick Gallagher	15/1
6	6Horse Greedy (KY)	Martin A. Pedroza	121	John W. Sadler	15/1