Omaha Beach arrives for Pegasus World Cup

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Omaha Beach arrived Tuesday night at Gulfstream Park following a cross-country flight from California and is scheduled to resume serious training in the coming days as the likely favorite here Jan. 25 in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup.

Jose Barrera, foreman for Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella, accompanied Omaha Beach on an uneventful flight and said Mandella is expected to arrive here ahead of the colt’s first breeze toward the 1 1/8-mile Pegasus and stay for the duration. Omaha Beach is bedded down in Barn 12 alongside the horses of trainer Mark Hennig.

“Everything is very good,” said Barrera.

Omaha Beach, owned by the Fox Hill Farms of Rick Porter, will be making his 11th and final career start in the Pegasus, which is shaping up with a full gate of 12 older horses. The newly turned 4-year-old colt will be ridden by Mike Smith.

Other top Pegasus prospects at this early date include McKinzie, Spun to Run, Gift Box, Bravazo, Tax, and Math Wizard.

A three-time Grade 1 winner at 3, including an easy romp in the Malibu at Santa Anita last Saturday, Omaha Beach is widely expected to be named among those eligible for top 3-year-old of 2019 when Eclipse Awards finalists are released Saturday. The colt is scheduled to head to stud duty at Spendthrift Farm after the Pegasus.