Omaha Beach works quick five furlongs for Malibu

The three-time stakes winner Omaha Beach continues to record fast workouts in advance of the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes at seven furlongs at Santa Anita on Dec. 26.

Tuesday at Santa Anita, Omaha Beach worked five furlongs in 59.20 seconds. Trainer Richard Mandella clocked Omaha Beach in a slightly quicker 59 seconds.

“He’s doing terrific,” Mandella said.

Omaha Beach worked a half-mile in a quick 46.60 seconds at Del Mar on Nov. 23.

Omaha Beach was second in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita on Nov. 2, ending a three-race winning streak that included the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park in April and the Grade 1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship at six furlongs on Oct. 5. Omaha Beach was sidelined last spring to undergo a breathing operation, which kept him from a start in the Kentucky Derby.

The $300,000 Malibu Stakes for 3-year-olds is likely to have more than one runner trained by Bob Baffert. Wednesday at Santa Anita, Baffert had two Malibu prospects work a half-mile – Much Better, who was timed in 46.20 seconds, and Mucho Gusto, who was timed in 50.60.

Mucho Gusto, a four-time stakes winner, has not raced since finishing fourth in the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park in September. Much Better, who has been second or third in three stakes, was beaten a nose in an allowance race with a $62,500 claiming option at 6 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar on Dec. 1 in his first start since June.

Baffert is also considering the Malibu for Speed Pass, the undefeated winner of an allowance race with a $40,000 claiming option at Los Alamitos on Sunday. Speed Pass won the six-furlong race by seven lengths in his second start, finishing in a quick 1:08.42 on sealed track rated good.