Omaha Beach Race Return Delayed Due to Virus

Fox Hill Farm's Omaha Beach will miss his expected race return next weekend at Del Mar after catching a virus, trainer Richard Mandella said Aug. 17.

"He doesn't have any temperature, but he's got some mucus and some discharge from his nose, so we scoped him and we can see he's a little inflamed," Mandella said. "The good news is the problem he had in his throat after the (Kentucky) Derby is not there. That part is good."

Omaha Beach has not raced since winning the April 13 Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park. The War Front  colt was installed as the morning-line favorite for the May 4 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) but was scratched due to an entrapped epiglottis. After surgery at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, Omaha Beach recovered at WinStar Farm. He returned to Mandella's Southern California stable June 10, a little over three weeks later than originally planned, after his team waited for the swelling to subside.

The virus will keep Omaha Beach out of the Aug. 25 Shared Belief Stakes, as first reported by VSiN's Ron Flatter.

"Hopefully this won't amount to be too much, and hopefully next week we'll get back on the track and point him to something else," Mandella said. "I don't have a plan today, but we'll be working on one."

Mandella had to scratch LNJ Foxwoods' United from Saturday's Del Mar Handicap Presented by The Japan Racing Association (G2T), a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" event for the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T), for the same reason.

Gary and Mary West's 2018 juvenile champion Game Winner, stabled with Bob Baffert at Del Mar, is also missing his next appointment in the Aug. 24 Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course due to a virus, it was revealed Aug. 15.