Report: Omaha Beach returning to Oaklawn for Arkansas Derby

A week after Omaha Beach out-dueled champion Game Winner in the second division of the split Rebel Stakes (G2), trainer Richard Mandella told the Daily Racing Form's Steve Andersen that his colt will return to Oaklawn Park for a final Kentucky Derby prep.

A trip back for the April 13 Arkansas Derby (G1) at 1 1/8 miles means a likely matchup with the narrow 1-2 finishers of the first Rebel flight, Long Range Toddy and Improbable.

"He ran well there," Mandella told Andersen, whereas Extra Hope, the trainer's other Rebel contender, ran a distant fourth. He'll remain in California for the April 6 Santa Anita Derby (G1) expected to be headlined by Game Winner.

Omaha Beach, a son of War Front, should be locked into the Kentucky Derby on points having earned 37.5 from the Rebel. While it took five starts for the colt to break his maiden, Mandella has always held Omaha Beach in high regard. He has missed the exacta just once in six races.

These plans are fortunate for Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, who picked up the mount last time on Omaha Beach. Smith also rides the Bob Baffert-trained Roadster, who's going in the Santa Anita Derby, and will be able to ride both in their final preps.

Extra Hope, a Shanghai Bobby homebred for Samantha Siegel's Jay Em Ess Stable, will need a win or runner-up finish to guarantee his Kentucky Derby spot. Two starts back, he won an allowance optional claiming race over the slop at Santa Anita by 3 1/4 lengths to ignite some Derby dreams.