Omaha Beach

Omaha Beach ran well in all three of his starts as a juvenile in 2018, finishing third in his debut, second by a nose, and then second by a neck, with each race held at a mile or longer. He then ran second by a half-length in his 3-year-old bow at one mile.

A promising colt from the barn of Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella, Omaha Beach shipped to Oaklawn for the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes off of a visually impressive, nine-length romp in a seven-furlong maiden special weight race at Santa Anita Park on Feb. 2.

In the second division of the Rebel, Omaha Beach seized command in the stretch and then held off a tenacious rally from previously unbeaten 2018 champion 2-year-old male Game Winner to prevail by a nose in a thrilling finish. The victory earned Omaha Beach 37.5 points toward qualifying for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve. In the Arkansas Derby, Omaha Beach cemented his spot in the Kentucky Derby with a determined win over highly regarded Improbable. Mike Smith asked Omaha Beach to make a bold move on the backstretch to advance from fifth and take the lead, and then the dark bay or brown colt still had enough fuel in the tank to repel a bid from Grade 1 winner Improbable in the stretch.

Omaha Beach is a half-brother to Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Take Charge Brandi, and his dam (mother), Charming, is a half-sister to champion Will Take Charge and Florida Derby winner Take Charge Indy. Multiple Grade 1 winner Take Charge Lady is his second dam (maternal grandmother).