Omaha Beach Back to Work Toward Pegasus World Cup

Fox Hill Farms' Omaha Beach  breezed five furlongs in 1:00.42 Jan. 12 at Gulfstream Park in preparation for the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes Presented by Runhappy (G1).

Jockey Julien Leparoux was up for the work, the 4-year-old War Front  colt's first since winning the Dec. 28 Malibu Stakes (G1) by 2 3/4 lengths at Santa Anita Park.

Omaha Beach's training program was briefly interrupted last week by what Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella described as a bruised foot. After a shoe was pulled and the foot was treated and poulticed, the colt was back on the track for a gallop Jan. 10. Mandella said he liked the way Omaha Beach handled Sunday's work.

"It went nice," Mandella said. "He missed a few days last week and missed a work, but no big deal. We've got time. We'll get another one next week, in six or seven days, and I think we'll be ready to go."

A three-time grade 1 winner, Omaha Beach is the expected favorite in the Jan. 25 Pegasus World Cup. It will be the final start of his career before he begins stud duty at Spendthrift Farm.

The Pegasus World Cup is also expected to be a rematch between Mandella's star and Spun to Run, who defeated Omaha Beach in the Nov. 2 Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Santa Anita.

Mandella said he might ask Leparoux to handle the final work for the Pegasus next weekend. Leparoux also worked Omaha Beach at Churchill Downs before the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), from which the colt was scratched because of an entrapped epiglottis. Hall of Fame jockey and regular rider Mike Smith will be up for the Pegasus World Cup.

Despite a strong headwind, Leparoux and Omaha Beach easily churned out fractions of :23.92 and :35.77 Sunday. They galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.35.

"Everything was good," Leparoux said. "To me, it looked very nice, very smooth. He was happy doing it. It felt good. It was a good breeze, I thought."

Mandella agreed with Leparoux's assessment.

"They said it was a really nice work, but we weren't looking to light any bulbs up," he said. "We were just trying to get a nice work today, and next week it will probably be a little better."

Mandella said the colt's foot has responded well to treatment.

"As you can see, it's working pretty good," he said. "We've got a lot of time to the race, so I think we're in good shape."

Mandella, who has developed and handled many stars during his distinguished career, said Omaha Beach has a distinctive combination of talent and temperament.

"I've never had a horse that is completely good-minded like this," he said. "Good horses, they get tough, aggressive. When it's time to go, he does rise to the occasion. Other than that, he's like a pet. He's just the sweetest horse I ever saw."

Bloom Racing Stable's Henley's Joy worked at Gulfstream on Sunday toward a start in the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes Presented by Runhappy (G1T). The Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T) winner trained by Mike Maker breezed five furlongs on the main track in 1:01.39. He finished eighth in the Nov. 30 Hollywood Derby (G1T) on a good course in his most recent effort.

More expected Pegasus World Cup Turf contenders breezed Sunday at Palm Meadows Training Center, including Chad Brown runners Without Parole and Sacred Life. Both went five furlongs on the turf in 1:02 4/5.

John and Tanya Gunther's Without Parole made his U.S. debut in the TVG Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) and finished third. At 3, he won the St. James's Palace Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot. Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, Wonder Stables, and Bethlehem Stables' Sacred Life is a group 3 winner in France and was second, beaten half a length, last out in the Nov. 30 Seabiscuit Handicap (G2T) by fellow Pegasus World Cup Turf contender Next Shares.

Trainer Tom Albertrani sent out Woodslane Farm's Sadler's Joy for a five-furlong move on Palm Meadows' dirt track. The grade 1 winner was timed in 1:02.55. He won the Nov. 23 Red Smith Stakes (G3T) in his most recent start.

Math Wizard, who is likely to skip the Pegasus World Cup in favor of the $20 million Saudi Cup Feb. 29, worked a half-mile in :47.75 at Gulfstream for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.