Tales from the Crib: Omaha Beach

Apr 26, 2019 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

As we prepare to commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day, the Allied invasion of Normandy that turned the tide in World War II, it’s fitting that the potential Kentucky Derby (G1) favorite is named Omaha Beach – in honor of the bloodiest sector on that battlefield.

It’s also fitting that Omaha Beach himself has a European connection, indeed the kind of transatlantic relationship made possible by the Allied victory. He was bred by the Charming Syndicate, affiliated with the Coolmore empire headquartered in Ireland, and brought up at its North American farm, Ashford, now the stud home of Triple Crown winners American Pharoah and Justify.

The syndicate derives its name from his dam, Charming. A $3.2 million Keeneland September yearling, Charming is the first foal produced by multiple Grade 1 winner and Broodmare of the Year Take Charge Lady, later the dam of champion Will Take Charge and Take Charge Indy (sire of Long Range Toddy).

Charming initially raced for James Scatuorchio. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the daughter of Seeking the Gold gamely prevailed as the 3-2 favorite in her unveiling at Keeneland. Michael Tabor, one of the Coolmore principals, became a co-owner for her second start in a Belmont Park allowance, where Charming was second best to future multiple Grade 1 vixen Music Note. Charming was next seen in a stakes herself in the 2008 Serena’s Song S. at Monmouth, but the 6-5 favorite unfortunately had to be pulled up and never raced again.

As a broodmare, Charming has passed on the ability that she couldn’t show in her abbreviated career on the track. Her second foal was champion Take Charge Brandi, by Giant’s Causeway, winner of the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). Her fourth foal, Courage Under Fire by War Front, remained in the Coolmore orbit through his juvenile campaign. For legendary Irish horseman Aidan O’Brien, he was runner-up to all-conquering stablemate Caravaggio in the 2016 Phoenix S. (G1) before eventually being sold to Scandinavian interests.

Charming also visited War Front in 2015, this time producing a dark bay colt on April 24, 2016.

“He was very straightforward and uncomplicated to deal with – a nice horse,” commented Ashford manager Dermot Ryan.

As a yearling, the War Front-Charming colt was consigned under the Eaton Sales banner at Keeneland September. But the top bid of $625,000 wasn’t enough to reach his reserve price, and he was led out unsold.

Not for long. Owner Rick Porter, whose red and white Fox Hill Farms silks have been carried by such champions as Songbird and Havre de Grace in recent years, struck a deal to buy the colt privately.

Porter told Blood-Horse about the last time he purchased an “RNA” (“reserve not attained”) from Eaton Sales – that colt turned out to be Grade 1 star Hard Spun, the runner-up in the 2007 Kentucky Derby.  

Hard Spun’s effort was followed in 2008 by another Derby second for Fox Hill, by ill-fated filly Eight Belles. Porter tried again in 2009 with the lukewarm favorite Friesan Fire, co-owned by Vinery Stable, but he had a checkered passage and wound up 18th.

Four years later, Normandy Invasion brought Porter back to the Derby. His bold move turning for home briefly raised hopes that he could win for the World War II veterans whom Porter invited as honored guests. But he tired in the stretch and crossed the wire fourth to Orb.

Porter’s next classic prospect, Battle of Midway, was named in honor of the comparable turning point in the Pacific Theater. That in itself might have been a clue about how highly he was regarded. After a terrifically gutsy second in the 2017 Santa Anita Derby (G1), Battle of Midway was acquired by the partnership of WinStar Farm and Don Alberto Stable. Thus when he went on to finish third in the Kentucky Derby, he bore the heroic name Porter gave him, but not his silks. (See the rest of Battle of Midway’s star-crossed story here.)

So when it came time to name his War Front-Charming colt, Porter returned to World War II for inspiration, and a more targeted reference to the invasion of Normandy, with Omaha Beach.

The handsome colt was sent to Bill and Lynn Recio’s Lynwood Stable to learn the ropes, like such past Fox Hill celebrities as Songbird and Battle of Midway. Omaha Beach quickly established himself as one of those rare talents – a natural.

“He was a pleasure,” Bill Recio recalled. “Some horses you have to trick and cajole. He was an ‘A’ student, always in the right place.”

No matter where Omaha Beach was on the extensive property near Ocala, Florida, negotiating different terrain and seeing new things, he always acted like he’d been there before.

“It was real easy with him. He did everything right, a pure pleasure with a lot of class.”

Recio noted that Omaha Beach has an exceptional conformation and a mind to match.

“He’s like a Breyer horse – a beautiful horse, beautiful head, great conformation. Because of his conformation, he has a great action. But you also have to have a great mind, and he came with it.

“He had a great way of going. I think he could run on asphalt and go fine.

“He has different gears, and that’s very unusual,” Recio added. “Usually a horse is either a front runner or comes from behind, but (the rider) can kind of put him anywhere.

“When horses are that talented, like Songbird, they are just natural great athletes…They kind of come that way.

“Horses like that, we’ve learned over the years to just stay out of their way, not to make any mistakes.

“It’s like Duke – they get a lot of great athletes, like Zion Williamson. You just keep ‘em healthy, make sure he has good habits, and stay out of his way.”

When Omaha Beach joined Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella in Southern California last summer, he was presumed to be a turf runner. After all, full brother Courage Under Fire raced on turf, and the progeny of their sire, War Front, had been typecast that way.

Omaha Beach ran well to place in his first three starts on the grass, but like Derby rival and fellow War Front colt War of Will, he shone on the dirt. Although his seconditis continued in his January 4 dirt debut, Omaha Beach aired in the Santa Anita slop on February 2. Then in back-to-back Derby points races at Oaklawn Park, he toppled two of Bob Baffert’s beasts. Omaha Beach staved off champion Game Winner in the second division of the Rebel (G2) on a fast track, handing him his first loss, and came back to repel Improbable in the Arkansas Derby (G1) on sloppy going.

Along the way, Mandella had to respond to a quarter-crack that emerged following Omaha Beach’s maiden win. If you want to force an ill-fitting D-Day analogy, think of General Eisenhower’s facing the adverse weather forecast that postponed the landings – but only for a day.

As reported in Daily Racing Form, farrier Ben Craft got Omaha Beach all squared away, with no effect on his Oaklawn performances. While the matter became a minor cause celebre when a new patch was applied recently, the colt remained unfazed and went about his business as usual.

Mandella is searching for his first Derby trophy. Yet the fact he’s only had six Derby runners in his long and storied career illustrates that he’s not insistent on pressing horses to get here.

Porter is just as easy to root for, and not just because of his past Derby heartbreaks. A cancer survivor, he’s also founded the National Thoroughbred Welfare Organization to protect horses’ lives.

“Call him All-American,” Recio said of Porter. “He understands the game well, like a throwback owner to the old days. He’s the CEO and coach, makes all the decisions. He’s a pleasure to work for.”

Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, who chose to ride Omaha Beach over Baffert’s Santa Anita Derby hero, Roadster, has a longtime relationship with Porter dating back a quarter-century.

“It’s great to have Mike Smith,” Recio said of the two-time Derby winner, “because he puts them in the right spot. We’re thrilled to have him.”

Just like racing fans are thrilled to have Mandella and Porter team up with a contender the caliber of Omaha Beach. And his assault won’t be dependent upon the weather. 

Photos of Omaha Beach in the sales ring (c) Keeneland/PhotosbyZ