Omaha Beach (War Front) and Long Range Toddy (Take Charge Indy) emerged from their respective upsets of highly regarded Bob Baffert trainees Game Winner (Candy Ride {Arg}) and Improbable (City Zip) in split divisions of the GII Rebel S. in good order, their connections reported Sunday morning. Omaha Beach is set to return to Southern California Tuesday, trainer Richard Mandella said Sunday. The Fox Hill Farms colorbearer made a bold bid on the far turn and held off a late run by champion Game Winner to claim the second division of the Rebel. Mandella also sent out Extra Hope (Shanghai Bobby) to a fourth-place finish in the first division.
“Extra Hope was set to run in the [since-canceled GII] San Felipe out there,” Mandella said. “[He] ran well, too. He had kind of a mixed-up trip. He can do better than that.”
The winner of that first division of the Rebel was Long Range Toddy, who re-rallied down the stretch to best heavily favored Improbable and earn his first graded stakes success.
“Everything's good,” Darren Fleming, assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, confirmed Sunday morning. Long Range Toddy is expected to make his next start in the GI Arkansas Derby in Hot Springs Apr. 13.
Following the conclusion of racing Saturday, Baffert indicated that Improbable is likely to return to Oaklawn for the Arkansas Derby, while Game Winner would remain in California for the Apr. 6 GI Santa Anita Derby.
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