Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby, 1 1/8 miles, Oaklawn Park, April 13, 2019 (100 Derby qualifying points for a win, 40 for second, 20 for third, 10 for fourth) Winner: Omaha Beach, by War Front Trainer: Richard Mandella Jockey: Mike Smith Owner: Fox Hill Farms Inc. Beyer Speed Figure: 101 After finishing second in three straight races, and looking quite content doing so, OMAHA BEACH has now won three consecutive races while showing a will to win that was previously lacking. There was never any moment in the stretch run of this race where it looked like runner-up IMPROBABLE was going to get past him. Omaha Beach has a strong foundation, with seven starts, and his Beyers have improved every time, culminating with a career best in his final Derby prep. Two of his victories, including this race, came on off tracks, which could prove important on Derby Day. But he’s also shown he’s just fine on dry, fast ground, witness his victory in a division of the Rebel over champion Game Winner. He also has the kind of tactical speed that has been the winning profile in recent Derbies. Add it up, and Omaha Beach is unquestionably one of the elite players for this year’s Derby. In this race, Omaha Beach broke alertly, then let four horses clear him in order to angle off the rail and get outside, which was the preferred spot on this card (this was recognized by Smith; it’s dismaying how many other riders failed to process this, as will be noted with subsequent runners). Omaha Beach raced in the clear while three to four paths wide around the first turn, then moved aggressively toward the end of that turn to go up and engage the longshot ONE FLEW SOUTH for the lead. He maintained a narrow advantage down the backstretch and into the far turn, then faced a fresh challenge from Improbable on the far turn while racing in about the 3 path. But Improbable never got past him, and Omaha Beach seemed to be inching clear of him at the wire after being lightly tapped a mere three times through the lane. He also galloped out better than anyone, indicating more distance will be no problem. :: DERBY WATCH: Top 20 Kentucky Derby contenders with comments from Jay Privman and Mike Watchmaker Improbable, who finished second, was unusually jumpy in the gate prior to the start and had to be backed out and reloaded. He got away just fine, then a furlong into the race angled off the rail and went into the first turn in midpack. He was taken to the middle of the track entering the backstretch – the best place to be – then moved sharply with a half-mile remaining to end up on Improbable’s hip heading into the far turn. He had to be urged more aggressively than Omaha Beach midway on the turn, came off the bend in the 4 path, but never could get by. He was well clear of everyone else, but he was second-best on the day. COUNTRY HOUSE, who was third, broke a half-step slowly and went into the first turn toward the rear of the pack while in the 3 path. He remained well back to the far turn, began a rally about four to five paths wide, was about six wide coming off the bend, then finished steadily without threatening the top two while racing on the best footing. He did not lug in, so the new bit he’s using seems to have worked, and he earned enough points to go to the Derby, which was the whole reason he ran back in this race just three weeks after the Louisiana Derby. LAUGHING FOX, who was fourth, lacks speed and trailed into the first turn. He made progress in the 2 path while between rivals three furlongs out, was toward the inside paths for most of the far turn, angled out with a furlong to go to clear tiring rivals, but couldn’t get past Country House, though there was considerable distance between him and the rest of the field. He also raced toward the worst part of the track when rallying, so extra points for that. He’s not a Derby contender, but he should prove useful if well spotted, and his connections are known for making realistic decisions. GALILEAN, who was fifth, veered in at the start, didn’t look comfortable taking the spray of slop in the initial furlong, then was angled to the rail heading into the first turn, which was exactly the wrong place to go on this day. He continued to carry his head high around that turn, then looked more comfortable late on the backstretch when gaining ground while being angled off the inside. But by the three-furlong mark, he was no longer making any appreciable progress. He came into the stretch in the 3 path while between rivals and finished evenly. This is the horse Flavien Prat chose to ride instead of Omaha Beach going into the Rebel. LONG RANGE TODDY, who finished sixth, stalked the early leaders from the 3 path around the first turn and was patiently handled when Omaha Beach made his big brush outside him six furlongs out. He followed Omaha Beach to the far turn, couldn’t go with Improbable when Improbable ranged up outside him three furlongs out, started to be urged along midway on the turn, and steadily retreated through the lane. He ran like he bounced off his Beyer career top in the Rebel. JERSEY AGENDA, who was seventh, went into the first turn just behind and outside of One Flew South, then wound up in an ideal spot, behind dueling leaders, when Omaha Beach made his early move to battle for the lead. He was sent along in the 2 path while between rivals three furlongs out, dropped down to the rail, and tired. He took up a furlong out, but he was long done by then. TIKHVIN FLEW, who was eighth, was just behind and outside Improbable while in the 3 path into the first turn. He was in the middle of the track down the backstretch, which was the best place to be on the day, but began to lose ground nearing the far turn. He was three paths wide on the far turn while inside of Country House, only had one horse beat midway on the turn, and passed a couple of weary rivals late but was always outrun. GRAY ATTEMPT, who was ninth, was taken right to the worst part of the track around the first turn to follow One Flew South. He saved ground while under a snug hold into the backstretch, was angled off the inside three furlongs out and came into the stretch in the 5 path but emptied out through the lane. SIX SHOOTER, who was 10th, got shuffled back in the early going, then checked slightly while toward the rear of the pack early on the first turn. He stayed inside most of the rest of the way, was through with three furlongs remaining, and angled into the lane in the 3 path while always outrun. I’d love to see him turn back to a sprint after a freshening. One Flew South, who finished last of 11, flew out of the gate from post 9 and could have set up shop anywhere on the track but was taken right down to the rail. He led until Omaha Beach took the lead into the backstretch, began to weaken heading into the far turn, and faded.