Omaha Beach wraps up Pegasus prep
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Omaha Beach, the solid favorite for the Pegasus World Cup on Saturday, had his final breeze toward the $3 million race when going five furlongs in 1:00.72 Sunday morning over a fast Gulfstream track.
Fernando De La Cruz, an exercise rider for Mark Hennig (and not the Midwest-based jockey), was aboard Omaha Beach, who went in splits of 24.77 and 36.75, with a six-furlong “out” time of 1:14.01, according to Daily Racing Form clocker Mike Welsch.
“The boy said he felt like a Cadillac,” said Richard Mandella, the Hall of Fame trainer of Omaha Beach. “He looked great. We’re ready to go.”
This was the second breeze for Omaha Beach since the colt arrived here Dec. 28, with a five-furlong work last Sunday coming in 1:00.42.
Mike Smith is the regular rider of Omaha Beach, who is one of 12 older horses expected for the 1 1/8-mile Pegasus when entries are taken here Wednesday. Owned by the Fox Hill Farms of Rick Porter, the 4-year-old colt won three Grade 1 races last year, ending with the Dec. 26 Malibu at Santa Anita.
With Omaha Beach stretching out off a 2 3/4-length win in the seven-furlong Malibu, Mandella said he isn’t worried about race tactics for the Pegasus.
“He’s always been able to do what you want to do, short or long,” said Mandella.
Mandella also said he was unconcerned about all raceday medication, including Lasix, being banned for the Pegasus.
“I’ve always said whatever the rules are, I’ll work with them,” he said.
In alphabetical order, these are the 12 expected for the fourth running of the Pegasus: Bodexpress, Diamond Oops, Higher Power, Mr Freeze, Mucho Gusto, Omaha Beach, Seeking the Soul, Spun to Run, Tax, Tenfold, True Timber, and War Story.
The Pegasus and the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf are among nine stakes to be run on a blockbuster Saturday card. A full field of 12 also is expected for the Pegasus Turf.
The long-term forecast for the local area calls for mostly sunny both Friday and Saturday with high temperatures in the 70s.
