Breeders’ Cup: Omaha Beach one to beat in Dirt Mile

By Rick Francis —-

SANTA ANITA

Race 6) 1 Mile. Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile Grade I. Purse $1,000,000 FOR THREE-YEAR-OLDS AND UPWARD.
Post Time 4:10 EST

1) Giant Expectations – winless in last nine starts, however always finds a spot on the board; a user in deep exotics.

2) Improbable – poor start cost this City Zip 3-year-old in the Pa. Derby; following a successful run at Oaklawn that saw him take the Rebel and Grade 1 Arkansas Derby it’s been up and down; Baffert goes to Bejarano.

3) Spun to Run – Hard Spun colt has the skills, hanging for third in the Haskell and producing triple-digit speed figures in winning both the G3 Smarty Jones and an overnight stakes last out both at Parx; major jock change to Irad Ortiz, Jr.

4) Mr. Money – honest worker was nailed at the wire in the Pa. Derby, his only blemish of his last five starts; you’ll get a solid and playable price.

5) Omaha Beach – War Font colt fired fresh off the bench with a game effort to take the Grade 1 Santa Anita Sprint, but he’s proven equally dangerous routing as his wins in the Rebel and Arkansas Derby attest; certainly one of the best 3-year-olds racing now.

6) Ambassadorial – entry is really a stretch here having made but one dirt start in his career and that was quite a while ago; pass.

7) Coal Front – another “work horse”; winner of the Godolphin Mile at Meydan showed signs of that trip when he finished well back in the Met Mile but rebounded to show at Monmouth then take the Parx Mile last out in dueling fashion; he would not be a surprise.

8) Blue Chipper – Tiznow 4-year-old enters having won 6 straight, all in South Korea; gelding is fast and with Prat aboard worth a flyer.

9) Diamond Oops – versatile 4-year-old comes in having placed in his last two, the prestigious G1 Whitney and a tough beat over the Keeneland turf in the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf mile; Leparoux stays.

10) Snapper Sinclair – City Zip 4-year-old knows how to get a check, a winner of two of his last three, including the very pricey Tours Mile at Kentucky Downs; with the exception of Ambassadorial, they’re all in play with exotic wagers.

Selections: 5, 4, 2, 8

Cover Photo: Omaha Beach; Coady Photography