'Economics' influence in-demand Omaha Beach's 2020 plans

Omaha Beach’s targeted path includes three more races: Saturday’s $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita Park, the Malibu (G1) in December at Santa Anita and then a finale Jan. 25 in the $9 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park.

After the Pegasus, Omaha Beach will likely move on to a stud career for Spendthrift Farm, holder of the 3-year-old’s breeding rights.

Trainer Richard Mandella said earlier this month he hopes current owners Fox Hill Farm and Spendthrift can “come up with a new plan” for Omaha Beach that includes a longer racing career past the Pegasus.

“My vote would be to race,” Mandella said, “because racing needs a star.”

TVG’s Caleb Keller asked Mark Toothaker, Spendthrift Farm stallion sales manager, about that decision Thursday during the network’s “Breakfast at the Breeders’ Cup” program.

Toothaker said of Omaha Beach that Spendthrift has “never had a horse come off the track with this much interest from our breeders,” with the Kentucky operation having already collected more than 500 requests.

With those numbers in mind, Toothaker said “economics” come into play as to whether Omaha Beach will spend 2020 in training or in the shed row.

“We certainly have had so much interest in him, it just kind of gets down to a point of economics – what he can stand for and the amount of money that would be generated on stud fees,” Toothaker said. “It’s hard to be able to go out on the race track and earn that kind of money. …

“If he does come this year – which we’ll see what (Spendthrift owner B. Wayne Hughes and Fox Hill owner Rick Porter) decide – it’s going to be an unbelievable book of mares.”

The War Front colt Omaha Beach carries a four-race winning streak into the Breeders’ Cup, including wins in the Arkansas Derby (G1) on April 13 and the Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G1) on Oct. 5.

Omaha Beach spent time in between those two starts recovering from throat surgery that forced the former Kentucky Derby favorite to scratch the week of the race.

Mandella said earlier this month the Dirt Mile’s distance made the race “a perfect fit” for Omaha Beach’s Breeders’ Cup assignment. He’s the 8-5 morning line favorite for the 10-horse Dirt Mile, scheduled for a 4:10 p.m. ET post time Saturday.

Omaha Beach likely would’ve been one of the top betting choices in the $6 million Classic, too. But stretching out from the six-furlong Santa Anita Sprint Championship to the Dirt Mile over a four-week span made for easier training than extending all the way to 1 ¼ miles for the Classic.

Toothaker said Spendthrift was glad Mandella chose the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.

“Breeders look for horses that are milers,” Toothaker said. “They seem to make the top stallions. We very much were hopeful that Richard would go that direction.”

Omaha Beach is one of four upcoming Spendthrift stallions who’ll be on display Saturday along with Coal Front (Dirt Mile), Mitole (Sprint) and Vino Rosso (Classic).