Omaha Beach Turns in Final Breeze for Pegasus World Cup

Omaha Beach  cruised through a five-furlong work in 1:00.72 Jan. 19 at Gulfstream Park, his final breeze for the Jan. 25 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes Presented by Runhappy (G1).

The Richard Mandella trainee is the expected heavy morning-line favorite for the 1 1/8-mile race. Entries will be taken Jan. 22.

Trainer Mark Hennig's exercise rider Fernando De La Cruz was aboard Omaha Beach. Fox Hill Farms' runner went three furlongs in :36.66 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:14.01 on a fast track, according to Daily Racing Form clocker Mike Welsch.

"We didn't want him to overdo it because we're within a week of the race," Mandella said. "The boy said he felt like a Cadillac. Actually, like a Porsche."

A week earlier at Gulfstream, Omaha Beach covered five furlongs with jockey Julien Leparoux in 1:00.42. 

Mandella was pleased with what he saw from the 4-year-old War Front  colt, who will begin stud duty at Spendthrift Farm following the Pegasus. Omaha Beach's regular jockey, Mike Smith, will be aboard for the race.

"He looked great," Mandella said. "We're ready to go."

Mandella said he does not expect Omaha Beach to have any trouble stretching out again a month after winning the seven-furlong Malibu Stakes (G1), which followed a runner-up finish in the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) and a win in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes (G1).

"He's always been able to do what you want to do, short or long," Mandella said. "I might have put him a little bit to sleep going into the mile of the Breeders' Cup as a mistake. Coming out of that sprint, I was a little concerned that I jazzed him up quick to do that. I thought, 'Well, I don't want to overdo it going into the mile.' I think I went a little bit too far the other way because leaving the gate, he kind of galloped around there until he came around the field and ran a good finish. I think I had more to do with him getting beat than him."

At Santa Anita Park, C R K Stable's Pegasus invitee Midcourt worked five furlongs in 1:00 1/5.

Bob Baffert confirmed to Gulfstream's racing office that he will enter Michael Lund Petersen's Mucho Gusto in the Pegasus. Eric Dattner, Barclay Tagg, and Harry Astarita's Realm was added to the also-eligible list.

Winchell Thoroughbreds' Tenfold is expected to work Jan. 20 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots for trainer Steve Asmussen and will ship to Gulfstream the following day.

Horses working Sunday for the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes Presented by Runhappy (G1T) included Bloom Racing Stable's Henley's Joy, who breezed five furlongs in 1:02.22 on Gulfstream's main track.

Next Shares drilled five furlongs in :59 4/5 on the dirt at San Luis Rey Training Center. Campaigned by Debby and Richard Baltas, Christopher Dunn, Jules and Michael Iavarone, Jerry McClanahan, Ritchie Robershaw, and Mark Taylor, Next Shares won the Nov. 30  Seabiscuit Handicap (G2T) in his most recent start.