Despite abbreviated schedule, Omaha Beach short price in Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile

ARCADIA, Calif. – Omaha Beach is trying to make up for lost time.

His campaign this year included a six-month gap that took him out of all the Triple Crown races, affording him just one start since his victory in the Arkansas Derby in April. That’s why on Saturday at Santa Anita he’s in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, rather than the $6 million Classic, but it seems no matter where he ended up, he was going to be a major player.

“Really good horses can adapt,” said his trainer and biggest admirer, Richard Mandella. “He’s such a great horse to respond to what you want to do.”

What Mandella desires on Saturday is a second straight victory against older horses, and a third Grade 1 win, one that could move Omaha Beach toward another start or two before his expected retirement to stud at Spendthrift Farm.

He has a large fan base, even outside of racing. A group of veterans had an audience with him Wednesday morning at Mandella’s barn, reflecting the emotions he evokes owing to being named for a pivotal part of the D-Day invasion.

His popularity among bettors will result in a short price at the windows. If Omaha Beach regresses off his big comeback victory four weeks ago in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship – in which he got a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 103 – some worthy rivals, like Improbable and Mr. Money, will offer value.

But Omaha Beach has shown no sign of backing off in his training, with three ideal works since his return to action, displaying solid, controlled power.

“That 8 and 3 was a pretty good work,” Mandella said, referring to the time of 1:08 and three-fifths of the Santa Anita Sprint Championship.

Omaha Beach faces nine rivals in the Dirt Mile, which goes as race 6 on the 12-race card. It’s an international field, with runners from Korea and Great Britain. But the most-fancied runners are those based in the United States.

Omaha Beach has the tactical speed to sit a perfect trip under Mike Smith after breaking from post 5. He had his final work Tuesday morning, and Wednesday morning Mandella said, “I’m ready.”

Two of his primary rivals are fellow 3-year-olds, Improbable and Mr. Money, both of whom exit compromised trips in the Pennsylvania Derby.

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Improbable finished fourth after breaking slowly, which has been an issue for him in several starts. He is 2 for 2 at mile, a distance his trainer, Bob Baffert, believes is ideal.

“I’m excited about him. He’s doing the best he’s ever done,” Baffert said. “Now that I’ve trained him to go a mile I really see a difference. The key is getting away from the gate.”

That is a task entrusted to Rafael Bejarano.

Mr. Money came into the Pennsylvania Derby riding a four-race win streak. He finished second to Math Wizard after inheriting the lead when Improbable had his tardy start. He and jockey Gabriel Saez also wound up on the rail, not the place to be at Parx that day.

“The winner ran a good race,” Bret Calhoun, the trainer of Mr. Money, said Wednesday morning, “but he probably could have done some things differently. His advantage is his high-cruising speed, but we let everybody else stay close, and he probably could have stayed off the rail a little more.”

Giant Expectations, fifth in this race last year at Churchill Downs, comes off a tough loss against Catalina Cruiser in the Pat O’Brien at Del Mar. Like Improbable, he has had numerous issues in the gate.

“He used to be bad all the time,” said his trainer, Pete Eurton. “He’s not patient in front of the grandstand. If he breaks clean, we could have some fun. If he runs his best race, he can be competitive.”

Coal Front should be on or near the lead. He owns mile wins this year in Dubai and, most recently, at Parx.

“He’s a top-class miler,” said his trainer, Todd Pletcher. “He ran a good race last time. He’s going to have to be at his very best this race, for sure.”

Blue Chipper and Ambassadorial give the race international flavor. Blue Chipper, a Kentucky-bred son of Tiznow who is 7 for 8 in South Korea, in particular has impressed with his works and training this week. Ambassadorial, who will use Lasix for the first time, largely has raced on dirt and synthetic in Europe. He was a distant third in a race in Korea in September.

Spun to Run, fifth in the Pennsylvania Derby, returned with a monster win at Parx in which he got a Beyer figure of 110.

Diamond Oops is in good form, with runner-up efforts in the Vanderbilt on dirt and Shadwell Turf Mile his last two starts

Snapper Sinclair ended up here because he couldn’t get into the Mile on grass, but he’s won two of his last three starts and has made $1 million.