Omaha Beach, Improbable Fire Bullets at Santa Anita

Omaha Beach and Improbable returned to the work tab March 30 for the first time since their efforts in separate divisions of the March 16 Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park—and both cruised through bullet moves at Santa Anita Park.

Working in company with retired jockey Alex Solis in the irons, Omaha Beach worked four furlongs in :47 4/5 for Richard Mandella, fastest of 25 at the distance, and earned the thumbs-up from his trainer. 

"I didn't realize it was a bullet," Mandella said. "He went great."

By War Front , Omaha Beach came off a maiden victory to hand champion juvenile colt Game Winner his first defeat in the second division of the Rebel. Game Winner got back to work for trainer Bob Baffert March 26 at Santa Anita, where he went four furlongs in :48 4/5.

Improbable drilled six furlongs with blinkers on in 1:12 4/5, fastest of 24 moves at the distance. The son of City Zip comes off a runner-up finish to Long Range Toddy by a neck.

"Very nice; I liked it," Baffert said.

Omaha Beach and Improbable are headed for a showdown in the April 13 Arkansas Derby (G1) back at Oaklawn, while Game Winner is pointing toward the April 6 Santa Anita Derby (G1).

Saturday was a busy work day for trainer John Sadler, who sent out Gift Box in preparation for the April 6 Santa Anita Handicap Presented by San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino (G1) and Nolo Contesto for the Santa Anita Derby.

Gift Box went six furlongs in 1:13 2/5, and Nolo Contesto clocked the same distance in 1:13 3/5.

"Gift Box went very well in company with Acker," Sadler said. "It was his last work before the race and he has plenty of foundation, so he didn't need much. Nolo Contesto schooled behind another horse. We wanted him to get used to having dirt in his face."

Also working toward the Santa Anita Derby was Sparky Ville, who went four furlongs in :49 4/5 for trainer Jeff Bonde.

Santa Anita Oaks (G1) contender Bellafina made her appearance on the work tab as well, cruising five furlongs in 1:00 1/5 for trainer Simon Callaghan. 

Brice Blanc was in the irons aboard the Quality Road  filly because Bellafina's regular rider, Flavien Prat, was in Dubai.

"It was an excellent work; I couldn't be happier," Callaghan said. "She started off in :24 and change, and Brice just sat into her the last eighth and she flew home.

"It was just what we wanted to see. She went a little easier last week (five furlongs in 1:04 3/5 March 24), so we wanted to get something more today, seven days out."         

In all, there were 179 recorded workouts Saturday at Santa Anita, 30 of them on the training track.