…and they’ve already sold the breeding rights. :o
D***! I was looking forward to him running!
Wonder how Mike Smith feels?:eek:
Me too, and I wondered the same thing.
Totally bummed as Omaha Beach was gonna be my pick.
Now probably Roadster.
Mike was also one of my first thoughts. Now he’s probably w/o a KD mount after being aboard the horse of his choosing and morning line favorite.
He won’t be without a Derby mount by tomorrow. I’m sure the scrambling and shuffling is already happening.
The breeding rights going to Spendthrift was a given considering that B. Wayne Hughes saved Rick Porter’s life two years ago. The announcement was just made now. But both Hughes and Porter are sportsmen first and foremost. Assuming there’s nothing more going on than we’ve been told, Omaha Beach will be back on the track after they’ve fixed the problem.
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If/when that’s the case, wonder who get’s booted so Mike has a seat at the table.
Wonder if he’ll end up on any of Baffert’s other 3…
I will be very surprised if Mike has a Derby mount. You just don’t jump ship this close to the biggest race of the horse’s career.
Very disappointed for Omaha Beach and the connections. I really thought he had a great chance at it. On the other hand, I just realized that I have a bet on Tacitus at 96-1 in the future books. It’s just $2, but still, that’s two power bills (non winter version) if he wins. 
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Rick Porter has to have the worst luck of anyone in the game… every “high” he experiences seems to be followed by a crushing blow. Does the heartbreak ever end for him?
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I envy you! Love that horse, although not quite as much as Omaha Beach. Now I actually have to do some handicapping, and it’s not a talent of mine.
I’m liking Maximum Security at this point. I loved the way he just galloped along with his ears forward in the Florida Derby, and then cruised away from Bodexpress. Hopefully he breaks well and stays out of traffic.
Haikal in doubt now with foot abscess. I’m sure owners sometimes wonder why horses can’t come up with a problem BEFORE paying that entry fee instead of a day or two after.
Since I’ve actually been to Fair Hill I have to go with WinWinWin as he’s based there. I loved his response in the workout last weekend, but hope he didn’t run his race then.
Mike didn’t jump ship. The horse “sank” out from under him.
Unless you mean another jockey jumping ship so Mike can have the mount? If so, I would think that decision isn’t up to the other jockey.
I was speaking as a trainer. No trainer is going to jump ship two days before the derby.
I believe for races like the Derby (in this case, Triple Crown) there is a nomination process. The earlier you get involved, the less you pay. There is also a fee to enter the Derby and a starting fee.
What is the recovery time for surgery for an entrapped epiglottis?
Would it be possible for Omaha Beach to make either of the two other TC races or is he out until late summer/fall?
Don’t know if surgery is in the plan, this was more of an idle curiosity question
He will be out until later in the summer. It’s all explained in this article: https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/233421/favored-omaha-beach-out-of-kentucky-derby
The nomination fee for the Triple Crown is $500 if you do it early (most, and in fact, hundreds of horses are nominated early.) The late fee is higher, maybe $5,000?
To enter the Derby costs $25,000. It takes an additional payment of $25,000 to start.
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