Omaha Beach

Omaha Beach (foaled April 24, 2016) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse who was the morning-line favorite for the 2019 Kentucky Derby after winning the Rebel Stakes and Arkansas Derby. However, he missed the race due to the diagnosis of an entrapped epiglottis. After a long layoff, he returned in October 2019 to win the Santa Anita Sprint Championship. Background Omaha Beach is a dark bay colt that was bred in Kentucky by Charming Syndicate. The syndicate owns the mare Charming, a daughter of Seeking the Gold out of Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Take Charge Lady. Charming, a half sister to Take Charge Indy and champion Will Take Charge, had previously produced champion filly Take Charge Brandi. In 2016, she foaled Omaha Beach, whose sire is War Front. War Front was a stakes winner on the dirt in America but established his reputation as a major sire with turf runners in Europe including Declaration of War, Roly Poly and U S Navy Flag. In 2017, Omaha Beach attracted a bid of $625,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale but did not meet his reserve as "he didn't vet", a reference to problems revealed by X-ray imaging. On a recommendation from trainer Larry Jones, Rick Porter had Dr. Larry Bramlage review the images. Bramlage concluded that the issue would heal up so Porter privately purchased the colt for an undisclosed price for his Fox Hill Stables. Omaha Beach is trained by Hall of Famer Richard Mandella. Racing career