Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Omaha Beach

Omaha Beach
War Front – Charming, by Seeking the Gold
Bred in Kentucky by The Charming Syndicate

Top-flight racemare and broodmare Take Charge Lady had connections to the winners of both divisions of the Rebel Stakes last month at Oaklawn Park. Those winners are expected to meet in the Arkansas Derby on Saturday, as Omaha Beach ships back in from California to face Long Range Toddy in this final major Kentucky Derby prep.

:: Shop for PPs, picks, DRF+ and more in our store!

Take Charge Lady was a three-time Grade 1 winner around two turns at Keeneland, winning the Ashland Stakes and two editions of the Spinster, and finished second as the favorite in the 2002 Kentucky Oaks. The Dehere mare won five other graded stakes races and earned more than $2.4 million before going on to become a Broodmare of the Year honoree, with her top offspring inheriting her stamina. She is the dam of Eclipse Award champion Will Take Charge, who posted Grade 1 victories in the 2013 Travers Stakes and Clark Handicap, and of 2012 Florida Derby winner Take Charge Indy – who is the sire of Long Range Toddy.

:: DERBY WATCH: Top 20 Kentucky Derby contenders with comments from Jay Privman and Mike Watchmaker

Omaha Beach, who races for Rick Porter’s Fox Hill Farm, is out of Take Charge Lady’s daughter Charming, a winning Seeking the Gold mare. Omaha Beach is her fourth winner from as many starters and her third stakes performer. She is also the dam of 2014 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner and Eclipse Award champion Take Charge Brandi and of Group 1-placed Courage Under Fire. Courage Under Fire is a full sibling to Omaha Beach.

Omaha Beach is by internationally successful stallion War Front, who has two major Kentucky Derby contenders this year. He is also the sire of Lecomte and Risen Star stakes winner War of Will. Although War Front is well known for his turf runners, the Grade 2-winning dirt sprinter is the sire of some top-flight main-track runners, including Grade 1 winner The Factor. His son Declaration of War was a Group 1 winner on turf before finishing a close third in the Breeders’ Cup Classic in his only start on dirt.