Omaha Beach Dealing With Quarter Crack

On Sunday, Kentucky Derby favorite Omaha Beach received a new patch on quarter crack on his front left leg, an injury trainer Richard Mandella said happened during his maiden win at Santa Anita Park in February.

Despite the crack, Omaha Beach went on to win the Rebel Stakes and Arkansas Derby to become one of the favorites to win the Kentucky Derby.
“Now it’s a little over two months old, that patch,” Mandella said at Churchill Downs. “So I brought my blacksmith, Ben Craft, here from California.”

Craft, who did the original patch on the crack, said the patch he put on the three-year-old colt on Sunday was just routine maintenance and Omaha Beach should be ready to go when the Derby comes around.

“…But it doesn’t mean I won’t worry,” he added. “We’ve got plenty to worry about. That particular thing’s an old issue, but as you understand, if you crack your fingernail near the cuticle, it’s going to be a long time before it’s grown down and cut out. You’ve got to stay with it and not let it become a problem again.”

Omaha Beach Betting Odds

Due to the crack and sloppy track, Omaha Beach missed a day of training on Saturday, but he was back on the track on Sunday and did a mile gallop.

Omaha Beach is the first horse Mandella has participating in the Kentucky Derby in 15 years, but he is confident about his chances of winning the Derby.

“I’m not used to having such a good 3-year-old at this time of year,” he said. “But I’m due. I’ve been doing this a long time. But I’m very fortunate to have a horse like Omaha Beach.

“He’s a very gifted horse — a great personality — the kind you’d like to just take home and sit by your couch at night.”