Omaha Beach, Long Range Toddy might meet in Arkansas Derby

Omaha Beach and Long Range Toddy, who won divisions of the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes on Saturday, both emerged from their races in good order, and it is not impossible that they could face one another next time in the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby on April 13.

The Arkansas Derby and the Grade 1, $1 million Santa Anita Derby on April 6 appear to be the most-likely options for a final prep for Omaha Beach for the May 4 Kentucky Derby. But on Sunday, trainer Richard Mandella said he wanted to get Omaha Beach back to his base at Santa Anita and assess things before committing to a race after seeing him prevail in his stakes debut.

“He’s in good shape,” Mandella said Sunday before boarding a plane in Little Rock, Ark. “We’ll get him home, see our options, but those races certainly are possibilities.

“I’m going to bask in this glory for a few days,” he said, chuckling.

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Mike Smith rode Omaha Beach for the first time in the Rebel. He also has been riding Roadster, who is scheduled for the Santa Anita Derby. If both go in that race, Smith would have to choose. If one goes to Arkansas, he might be able to stay on both for their final preps.

Long Range Toddy is certain for the Arkansas Derby, trainer Steve Asmussen said Sunday. Long Range Toddy has been based at Oaklawn all meet after finishing his 2-year-old campaign with a victory in the Springboard Mile at Remington. The Arkansas Derby would mark his fourth start of the season, following the Smarty Jones, Southwest, and Rebel. He has finished in the money in every start at Oaklawn.

Asmussens said he was “elated” with Long Range Toddy’s race.

“The horse is getting good at the right time,” Asmussen said. “He’s a horse that’s progressed nicely from a maiden winner at Remington Park to winning a Rebel against a very talented group. You know, I think that it shows how important two-turn-mile dirt races are for a late 2-year-old. Remington gives you that opportunity, and that’s proved to be invaluable to the development of a horse like him.

“Ironically, that’s a very hard race to find out there, and for horses to come out of those races and end up in the position he’s in, I think speaks volumes. I think it’s just aided in his development, to get him to this point.”

Omaha Beach and Long Range Toddy both defeated 2-5 favorites trained by Bob Baffert, both of whom were previously unbeaten and were making their first starts of the year. Baffert on Sunday said that Eclipse Award winner Game Winner, who lost a narrow decision to Omaha Beach, and Improbable, whom Long Range Toddy ran down in the final furlong, both were “great.”

Omaha Beach, Game Winner, and Improbable all are scheduled to return to California on Tuesday.

Baffert said Game Winner would make his next start in the Santa Anita Derby, while Improbable would return to Oaklawn for the Arkansas Derby.

The Santa Anita Derby and Arkansas Derby, both at 1 1/8 miles, both offer 170 points overall under the system Churchill Downs uses to determine the Derby field, with 100 for first and 40 for second.

– additional reporting by Mary Rampellini