Omaha Beach, the 4-1 morning-line favorite for the 145th Kentucky Derby, was scratched on Wednesday after developing a cough. Omaha Beach will undergo a procedure to correct the condition in the next few days, he said. Mandella, a well-liked trainer with a Hall of Fame plaque but no Derby trophy, came into the race with perhaps his best shot to win after six previous tries. His mood was upbeat as he greeted onlookers Wednesday morning after Omaha Beach, the Arkansas Derby winner last month, returned from the track. Mike Smith, who won the coveted Triple Crown last year aboard Justify, gave up the mount on Roadster, a talented colt trained by the two-time Triple Crown winner Bob Baffert, to ride Omaha Beach, believing he was the horse to beat.

Source: New York Times May 01, 2019 23:37 UTC