Omaha Beach arrives in Kentucky to prepare for Derby

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Omaha Beach arrived Tuesday afternoon from Arkansas in becoming the latest contender for the 145th Kentucky Derby to take up residence at Churchill Downs.

Omaha Beach, winner of the Arkansas Derby last Saturday for Richard Mandella, became the ninth horse to be bedded down here ahead of the Kentucky Derby, with travel itineraries for the others still being nailed down as the May 4 race draws near. As of Wednesday, the others with assured berths in the Derby who are on site are By My Standards, Country House, Improbable, Long Range Toddy, Plus Que Parfait, and Tacitus, while bubble horses Anothertwistafate and Sueno also are on the grounds.

Some 70 miles up the road at Keeneland in Lexington are Code of Honor, who is expected here next Thursday; War of Will, who is expected here about a week out from the race; Gray Magician; and Signalman, who is on the bubble.

A sizable contingent remains in other states, with virtually all of them scheduled to arrive here a week or so out. In Florida, Vekoma, Cutting Humor, and Spinoff are all at Palm Beach Downs, Maximum Security is at Palm Meadows, and Bodexpress, who is on the bubble, is at Gulfstream West.

The Bob Baffert pair of Game Winner and Roadster are training at Santa Anita, with assistant Jimmy Barnes expected to be here Friday to oversee the training of Improbable. Haikal and Tax are training at Belmont Park. Win Win Win is training at Fair Hill in Maryland. And the Japanese horse Master Fencer is expected here April 29 following quarantine procedures after an overseas flight into Chicago.

Saturday at Churchill will mark the first day of the special training period (7:30-7:45 a.m. Eastern) reserved for Derby and Kentucky Oaks horses. Live streaming is available.