Omaha Beach

Whether it's May or September, Omaha Beach just can't seem to make the Churchill Downs starting gate. The Arkansas Derby (G1) winner, scratched from the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) as the morning-line favorite, has been withdrawn from consideration for the Sept. 28 Ack Ack Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs. 

He is now pointed toward the Oct. 5 Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G1), Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella told Churchill publicity Sept. 21.

Medallion Racing
"His workout yesterday got very messed up, and I needed that to be good in order to run him next week in Kentucky," Mandella said via text. "I decided to stay here and just run him in the (Sprint Championship) Oct. 5."

Omaha Beach breezed seven furlongs in 1:27 1/5 Sept. 20 at Santa Anita, handily outfinishing workmate Charlito but recording a time more than two seconds slower than his previous drill Sept. 13. The breeze was his seventh since returning to training following a procedure to correct an entrapped epiglottis, the physical setback that necessitated his Derby scratch.

The epiglottis is a triangular-shaped cartilage that lies at the airway just in front of the arytenoid cartilages that cover the airway during swallowing. When an abnormality occurs, it can hinder breathing and performance.

Owned by Rick Porter's Fox Hill Farm, Omaha Beach won three consecutive races this spring to vault into the Derby picture. Besides the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park, he took a division of the Rebel Stakes (G2) and a maiden race at Santa Anita. A 3-year-old son of War Front  out of the Seeking the Gold mare Charming, he has a record of 3-3-1 from seven starts and earnings of more than $1.12 million.

At six furlongs, the Santa Anita Sprint Championship would mark the shortest race of Omaha Beach's career. The race provides a "Win and You're In" berth to the TwinSpires Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) Nov. 2 at Santa Anita.

According to Churchill Downs assistant racing secretary and stakes coordinator Dan Bork, runners still expected for the one-mile Ack Ack include Air Strike, Mr Darcy, Mr. Jagermeister, and Thirstforlife. The defection of Omaha Beach could lead to an expansion of the field that will be drawn Sept. 25.