Likely Kentucky Derby favorite Omaha Beach has been scratched and will not make a Run for the Roses on Saturday at Churchill Downs.
Trainer Richard Mandella noticed a slight cough and upon determining the cause it was found the colt had an entrapped epiglottis. He will undergo surgery to correct the breathing problem and hopefully resume his career. Mandella said it is probably going to cause Omaha Beach to miss about three weeks of training. That leaves the role of favorite somewhat open, with Bob Baffert’s Game Winner the most probable to assume that role.
The scratch also leaves jockey Mike Smith without a Derby mount. Mike had chose to ride Omaha Beach over Roadster in the Derby.
It was not reported anywhere we saw that Omaha Beach had some inflammation in his throat about a week and a half ago and was put on antibiotics. Each bath and gaze westward was reported but this type of information never made its way to the bettors or fans. It does not speak well for transparency, at least on a scrutinizing level and reminds us of Dortmund having a mystery bout with colic before his Kentucky Derby run. If you bet Dortmund that has to sting somewhat. That said, it may not be realistic to expect to know all that goes on in a barn. Trainers have a right of privacy and to not publicize their methods, techniques and everything they do. It is a fine line. Although Omaha Beach was entered, Mandella did not try to run. No harm no foul really. Sometimes you have to trust in the class barns like his to do the right thing, even if you do not know every hiccup.
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