Withers: Distance could help Omaha Omaha in Ky. Derby prep

Omaha Omaha closed from last place to second in the one-turn mile Jerome in January and will look to do one better as he stretches for Saturday’s listed Withers, a 1 1/8-mile test for 3-year-olds at Aqueduct.

The Withers will award the top five finishers 20-10-6-4-2 qualifying points for Kentucky Derby 2025.

Trained by Michael Gorham, the Audible bay picked up five Derby qualifying points for his deep-rallying Jerome performance where he was bumped at the start and 11 lengths back in last of seven before surging to a 3 1/2-length second behind the pacesetting Cyclone State.

“I think the distance should definitely help him,” Gorham said. “Last time was just the one-turn mile. I think even that day, if he had a little more distance, he would’ve been a little more effective.”

Omaha Omaha previously closed to win a 1 1/16-mile optional-claimer in November at Laurel Park by seven lengths, following a similar late-footed graduation at third asking going one mile around two turns in October at Delaware Park.

“That’s kind of his style. He doesn’t have a lot of natural speed, but once he gets going, he has that cruising speed and he makes up a lot of ground,” Gorham said. “He’s a big horse and has a long stride. So when he gets rolling, he gets going pretty good.”

A Virginia homebred for On Your Left Racing, Omaha Omaha is out of the Kitten’s Joy mare England Swings, a full sister to 2015 champion grass horse Big Blue Kitten. Omaha Omaha debuted on turf, finishing fourth in a 7 1/2-furlong maiden in August at Delaware Park.

“We ran him once on turf, and he didn’t run a terrible race. It was his first time out and only going seven and a half, and he closed some ground,” Gorham said. “That’s another option that down the road, he may even run on turf, too, so maybe he can go both ways.”

Raul Mena, aboard for Omaha Omaha’s five career efforts, retains the mount from the outermost post 7, tabbed at morning-line odds of 4-1.

“Since he doesn’t have a lot of speed, he will probably be able to drop over, get to the rail, save ground around the first turn as much as we can,” Gorham said. “Once we got him to stretch out, he improved every race. That’s a real good thing. He seems to be getting better all of the time.”