Omaha Beach headed to Churchill on Tuesday

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Omaha Beach emerged from his Saturday win in the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park in “great shape” and will soon head to Churchill Downs to begin preparations for the Kentucky Derby, trainer Richard Mandella said on Sunday.

Omaha Beach won his third straight race in the Arkansas Derby, run in the slop, following a maiden special weight sprint in the slop at Santa Anita and the second division of last month’s Grade 2, $750,000 Rebel on a fast track at Oaklawn. For his one-length victory over Improbable in the Arkansas Derby, Omaha Beach went over $1 million in earnings and posted a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 101.

“Every race, every month, he’s improving, and we’re not at the end of the road yet,” Mandella said Sunday.

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Omaha Beach invaded from Santa Anita for the Arkansas Derby but, instead of going back home, will head to Churchill Downs. The Kentucky Derby is May 4.

“He’ll have a couple of days off here at Hot Springs, then he’ll ship to Louisville,” Mandella said.

Mandella said Omaha Beach will travel on Tuesday. Mandella was to fly home Sunday to California, take care of business there, then head to Churchill Downs.

“Within a week, we’ll all be back together,” he said.

Mike Smith rode Omaha Beach in the Arkansas Derby, a week after he won another major Kentucky Derby prep, the Santa Anita Derby, aboard Roadster. It is not known whom he will ride in the Kentucky Derby.

“It’s too early,” Mandella said. “In a few days, it will all come together.”

Mandella trains Omaha Beach for Fox Hill Farm. The colt, by War Front, is a half-brother to champion Take Charge Brandi.

Improbable, the winner of the Grade 1 Los Alamitos CashCall Futurity in December, was making his second start of the year in the Arkansas Derby. He broke from the rail in the field of 11 and, after racing in midpack, took after leader Omaha Beach to finish second by a length with a career-high Beyer of 99. Prior to the start of the race, Improbable was backed out of the starting gate and reloaded.

“He ran a great race,” Bob Baffert, who trains Improbable, said Sunday. “There were a few anxious moments in the starting gate, and I was really worried that he could have got hurt in the starting gate. He was anxious in there. But luckily, the gate crew did a great job unloading him.

“Once he got away, after that, I wouldn’t have thought we had any chance of running second. I was actually relieved. I was so relieved. I said, ‘Thank you, Lord. I’ll take it!’ ”

Baffert said Improbable emerged from the Arkansas Derby in good order and is scheduled to fly Monday to Churchill Downs. Improbable added blinkers for the race, and Baffert said he has not decided whether the horse will wear them for the Kentucky Derby.

“I don’t know about the blinkers,” he said Sunday. “I need more input.”

Improbable is one of three starters Baffert has qualified for the Kentucky Derby, along with champion Game Winner and Roadster.

Improbable races for WinStar Farm, China Horse Club International, and Starlight Racing, the same group that co-owned last year's Triple Crown winner, Justify. Baffert trained Justify, who also raced for Head of Plains Partners.

Long Range Toddy, who won the first division of the Grade 2, $750,000 Rebel over Improbable, finished sixth in the Arkansas Derby after breaking from the 11 hole. He ranks 13th on the points leaderboard for the Kentucky Derby with 53.5, according to Churchill.

Trainer Steve Asmussen said Long Range Toddy flew out early Monday to Kentucky.

“He went to Churchill to prepare for the Derby,” Asmussen said Monday.

Mitole, Whitmore weigh options

Plans for Mitole and Whitmore, who finished one-two in the Grade 3, $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap on Saturday, are being determined. The horses are the top sprinters on the grounds and met for the first time in the Count Fleet.

Mitole set the pace and prevailed by 2 3/4 lengths to tie his best Beyer, a 107.

“Brilliant horse,” Asmussen said Sunday, adding that he is discussing plans with owners Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt.

Whitmore, who usually bids from off the pace, raced in second in the Count Fleet and earned a Beyer of 101.

“He came back healthy and good,” Ron Moquett, who co-owns and trains Whitmore, said Sunday.

Whitmore, a Grade 1 winner and the runner-up in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint, was seeking to win the Count Fleet for a record third time in a row Saturday.

Moquett said Whitmore might run next in the Grade 1, $500,000 Churchill Downs at seven furlongs May 4. Moquett said that for right now, Whitmore will continue training at Oaklawn. Moquett also has divisions of his stable in Kentucky.

Asmussen said Mitole shipped to Churchill Downs on Monday.