Omaha Beach to Arkansas Derby; Extra Hope to Santa Anita Derby

ARCADIA, Calif. – Omaha Beach, who won one of the two divisions of the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park on March 16, will return to that track for the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on April 13, while stablemate Extra Hope will be pointed for the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 6.

Trainer Richard Mandella confirmed those plans on Saturday. Omaha Beach and Extra Hope represent Mandella’s chances for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 4.

Omaha Beach, owned by Rick Porter’s Fox Hill Farm, won his stakes debut in the second division of the Rebel Stakes at 1 1/16 miles, racing near the front throughout.

“He ran so good there,” Mandella said.

Omaha Beach finished a nose in front of Game Winner, the champion 2-year-old male of 2018. The Rebel Stakes was Game Winner’s first loss in his fifth start. Game Winner is a candidate for the Santa Anita Derby.

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

Extra Hope, owned by Samantha Siegel, was fourth in the first division of the Rebel Stakes in his first stakes start this year. Last December, Extra Hope was third in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Futurity. He won an allowance race with an $80,000 claiming option at Santa Anita in his 3-year-old debut on Jan. 31.

The win at Santa Anita played a leading role in pointing Extra Hope for the Santa Anita Derby, Mandella said.

“Extra Hope ran well here, and he didn’t run well at Oaklawn,” he said.

Mike Smith rode Omaha Beach in the Rebel and will retain the mount in the Arkansas Derby. Drayden Van Dyke will ride Extra Hope, Mandella said.