Omaha Beach puts in sharp move for Malibu

ARCADIA, Calif. – Trainer Richard Mandella had planned on giving Omaha Beach a little tune-up on Sunday morning at Santa Anita in preparation for the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes, but with that race having been postponed from Thursday to Saturday, the method in which it unfolded changed.

Rather than an easy breeze four days out, Omaha Beach had a much sharper drill for a race that is now six days away. Omaha Beach officially went three furlongs in a swift 34 seconds, then galloped out powerfully. The time was by far the fastest of 31 at the distance on Sunday morning. The next-fastest three-furlong work was in 36.20 seconds, more than two seconds slower.

“He went nice. Had a hard time pulling him up,” Mandella said. “I was going to breeze him easy if the race was Thursday, but with the race put off until Saturday I decided to do a little more.”

The Malibu is one of five stakes that were scheduled for the original opening day of Thursday, but will be part of a new opening-day card on Saturday that also includes two stakes previously scheduled for that day. In total, there will be seven stakes as part of an 11-race card, with first post at 11 a.m. Pacific. Entries for the Saturday card were to be taken Monday.

With rain in the forecast for Monday, and no workouts allowed on the main track on Monday and possibly several subsequent days, it was a busy morning Sunday, with 260 horses recording workouts – 224 on the main track, and another 36 on the training track.

Besides Omaha Beach, the biggest name to work was McKinzie, most recently second in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. He went an effortless half-mile by himself in 48 seconds after the third and final renovation break of the morning. It was his third work since the Breeders’ Cup, with all the works being four furlongs. McKinzie is possible for the Pegasus World Cup next month at Gulfstream Park, but his main goal in early 2020 is the inaugural Saudi Cup, according to trainer Bob Baffert.

Storm the Court had his first drill since winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Nov. 1. He went a half-mile in 48.80 seconds for trainer Peter Eurton.

In addition to the Malibu, the other Grade 1 race postponed from Thursday to Saturday is the La Brea for 3-year-old fillies, in which Bellafina will be favored. One of Bellafina’s rivals, Bell’s the One, also worked a half-mile, in 48 seconds.

“Went superb,” said Tony Reinstedler, who is overseeing the filly until trainer Neil Pessin arrives later in the week. Bell’s the One most recently won the Grade 2 Raven Run at Keeneland on Oct. 19.

Bast, a three-time Grade 1 winner this year, had her first work since winning the Grade 1 Starlet at Los Alamitos on Dec. 7. She went a half-mile in 48.20 seconds for Baffert, who said he is considering the Grade 3, $200,000 Santa Ynez Stakes at seven furlongs on Jan. 5 for her next start.