Omaha Beach to Spendthrift in 2020 as other additions revealed
Before Omaha Beach scratched as the favorite for the 2019 Kentucky Derby, B. Wayne Hughes' Spendthrift Farm announced it had acquired the colt's breeding rights. This week, the Lexington, Ky., operation added that Omaha Beach will join its stallion roster for 2020.
A son of War Front trained by Richard Mandella, Omaha Beach hasn't raced since winning the Arkansas Derby (G1), which he won in succession along with the Rebel Stakes (G2) and a Santa Anita Park maiden special weight flight. Mandella has said Churchill Downs' Sept. 28 Ack Ack (G1) going a one-turn mile will be used as a prep for the Breeders' Cup.
In recent years, horses going to stud have run as late as Gulfstream Park's Pegasus World Cup (G1) at the end of January, with Lane's End Farm-bound City of Light and Accelerate the most-recent examples.
Omaha Beach missed time to have an entrapped epiglottis surgically repaired. He was due to race in August before an additional setback arrived in the form of a mild sickness. The colt is back to working regularly.
In addition to Omaha Beach, Mitole was another previously announced as a Spendthrift stallion. The farm also confirmed Thursday evening that graded stakes winners Vino Rosso, Maximus Mischief and Coal Front will stand there next year.
“There is obviously a tremendous amount of history here at Spendthrift, and it’s long been a goal of Mr. Hughes to return this great farm to its better days as a premier stallion operation. We believe we are doing that,” said Ned Toffey, Spendthrift general manager. “Currently, we are the only North American farm standing three stallions that have multiple Grade 1 winners in 2019, with Malibu Moon, Temple City and, of course, Into Mischief who’s the No. 1 General Sire in the land. The addition of these five new horses will greatly complement our stallion roster and is representative of our commitment.
"It is the finest group we’ve had the privilege to bring in, and the best this storied farm has seen in decades. There is quality and diversity for every breeder. We’re extremely excited about all five horses and the future of Spendthrift.”
Via a Spendthrift news release, here's more about the recent additions:
Spendthrift has acquired the breeding rights to the Grade 1-winning son of Curlin from owners Mike Repole of Repole Stable and Vinnie Viola of St. Elias Stable. Winner of this year’s Gold Cup at Santa Anita (G1), Vino Rosso is being pointed to the Breeders’ Cup Classic before he’s set to retire to stud.
Trained by Todd Pletcher, the millionaire won on debut at Aqueduct as a 2-year-old before returning to win the Wood Memorial (G2) at 3. This year, Vino Rosso captured the Stymie Stakes at Aqueduct in his 4-year-old debut before shipping to California to win the $500,000 Gold Cup at Santa Anita (G1). He is targeting the Sept. 28 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Belmont Park on his way to the Breeders' Cup.
Bred by John Gunther, Vino Rosso has earned $1,353,125 from five wins in 13 starts to date. He is out of the Street Cry mare Mythical Bride, who’s a half-sister to several Grade 1 performers including Commissioner. Vino Rosso’s fee will be announced at a later date.
Maximus Mischief has retired to Spendthrift and will be immediately available for inspection upon appointment. One of the early winter book favorites for the 2019 Kentucky Derby, the son of leading general sire Into Mischief was undefeated in three starts as a 2-year-old by a combined 17 lengths, including a decisive victory over Tax in the Remsen Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct.
Campaigned by owners Cash is King and LC Racing, the precocious colt earned Beyers of 94, 98 and 97 in his three performances at 2, making him one of the fastest juveniles of his crop and one of the fastest ever by his champion juvenile sire.
Bred by Martha Jane Mulholland, Maximus Mischief was a $340,000 2-year-old purchase out of the young Songandaprayer mare Reina Maria, a half-sister to the Grade 1-winning juvenile Secret Compass. His 2020 fee has been set at $7,500 S&N.
Spendthrift has also acquired the breeding rights to four-time graded stakes-winning millionaire-miler Coal Front from his owners Robert LaPenta and Head of Plains Partners. Trained by Pletcher, Coal Front is being pointed to the Kelso S. (G2) at Belmont on Sept. 21 with the potential of running in the Breeders’ Cup and Cigar Mile (G1) prior to retiring to stud.
An earner of $1,725,280 to date, Coal Front has won graded stakes at five different distances from six furlongs to 1 1/16 miles on dirt. After a dominant maiden win on debut at Keeneland and allowance win over eventual Grade 1 winner Patternrecognition at Belmont in his second start, the striking dark bay colt remained undefeated with a victory in the 6 ½-furlong Amsterdam Stakes (G2) at Saratoga, earning a 104 Beyer. He closed out his 3-year-old season with a win in the six-furlong Gallant Bob S. (G3) at Parx, earning a 107 Beyer – one of the fastest of the year by a sophomore.
Coal Front won the seven-furlong Mr. Prospector S. (G3) at Gulfstream as a 4-year-old and carried his top form into 2019, winning the 1 1/16-mile, $500,000 Razorback (G3) at Oaklawn and $1.5 million Godolphin Mile (G2) at Meydan.
A $575,000 2-year-old purchase, Coal Front has won seven of 11 starts to date. He is by Stay Thirsty and hails out of the Mineshaft mare Miner’s Secret, with Kingmambo and Seattle Slew being his second and third broodmare sires, respectively. His fee will too be announced at a later date.