Racing! Omaha is 11th in Triple Crown poll

Hello, my name is John Cherwa and welcome back to our horse racing newsletter as get to the middle day of a three-day weekend.

We assembled a blue-ribbon panel of experts to rank the 12 winners of the Triple Crown. They will appear in every newsletter leading up to the Belmont with the final two revealed on Belmont Stakes Saturday.

So, on to No. 11.

11. Omaha (1935) 24 points

You’re going to hear the name (Sunny) Jim Fitzsimmons a lot as post time for the Belmont Stakes approaches. He is the only trainer to condition two Triple Crown winners. Will Bob Baffert be the second? One of Fitzsimmons’ horses is Omaha, the son of Gallant Fox. Their Triple Crowns came five years apart. Our panel liked daddy better than the son, thus Omaha’s spot as the 11^th best Triple Crown winner. Four on the panel voted him last, three had him next to last, two had him 10^th and two had him in ninth.

He had a somewhat unremarkable 2-year-old season. He finished second in his first race and then won just five days later. That was it for wins. In seven races, he ran second three times and fourth four times, all on the New York circuit. He then took almost seven months off before returning to the track at Aqueduct, where he won an allowance and five days later finished third in the Wood Memorial. Everyone remembers his exceedingly strong finish and Fitzsimmons pointed him to the longer Triple Crown races.

He went off as the second favorite in the Kentucky Derby behind Nellie Flag, a filly. Jockey Willie (Smokey) Sanders rated him well, moved to the front on backstretch and hand-rode him home to win by 1 ½ lengths. A heavy rain fell throughout the day and during the race. A week later it was on to the Preakness, where he won by six lengths. Then, as was the way they raced back then, he ran in the one-mile Withers Stakes and finished second.

He completed his Triple Crown run by winning the Belmont by 1 ½ lengths over a sloppy track. When he made his move, he was covered in mud but unleashed one of his patented “from the clouds” stretch runs.

Omaha raced three more times that year, winning twice before coming up lame and given the rest of the year off. His 4-year-old season started with a boat ride across the Atlantic and he ran four times in England, winning twice and finishing second twice. He ran in the 2 ½-mile Ascot Gold Cup but lost by a head in front of 150,000 people. In his last race, he finished second in the Princess of Wales Stakes to the winner, who was carrying 14 fewer pounds.

He was not a successful stud and eventually was sent to a farm in Nebraska. He would make appearances at Ak-Sar-Ben (Nebraska spelled backwards) in the city he was named after. He died in 1959 at 27.

The Times Triple Crown panel is composed of horse racing experts, journalists and racing secretaries. It members are Rick Hammerle, racing secretary at Santa Anita; Steve Haskin, racing author and columnist the BloodHorse; David Jerkens, racing secretary at Del Mar; Tim Layden, turf writer at Sports Illustrated; Tom Pedulla, lead writer for America’s Best Racing; Jay Privman, national correspondent for the Daly Racing Form; Jeff Siegel, veteran horseman and lead commentator at XBTV.com; Childs Walker, turf writer at the Baltimore Sun; Alicia Wincze Hughes, racing editor at the BloodHorse; Jon White, racing historian and morning-line maker at Santa Anita and Tim Wilkin, turf writer at the Albany Times Union.

Vote totals were 14 points for first place, 12 for second, 10 for third, and then one point less in descending order.

12. Sir Barton (read about him here)

Audible out of Belmont

Todd Pletcher announced on Friday that Audible, a hard-charging third in the Kentucky Derby, would be skipping the Belmont Stakes. Pletcher said he needed a freshening and would point for a race such as the Haskell at Monmouth.

But, what that announcement brought was speculation that the horse was pulled from the Belmont because he was a major competitor to stop Justify’s Triple Crown bid. The reason for that is the WinStar Farm and China Horse Club are owners in both Justify and Audible.

Pletcher is a stand-up guy and we’re hoping that the colt not being ready was the only reason he’s skipping the 1 ½-mile test. Pletcher plans to enter Vino Rosso and Noble Indy.

Santa Anita review

Congrats to Kosta Hronis, one of our newsletter readers, and his brother Pete, and, of course John Sadler and Victor Espinoza for pulling off the Big’ Cap-Gold Cup double with Accelerate.

But we’re going to leave the storytelling of Saturday’s big day of racing to Eric (Manny Mota) Sondheimer. He was front and center at Santa Anita on Saturday, and here’s his report. (Just click here.)

Santa Anita preview

Sunday’s card at Santa Anita has two stakes races and more than half the card is on the turf. The nine-race card starts at 12:30 p.m. The Grade 3 $100,000 Desert Stormer Stakes is the headliner as the eighth race around 4.20 p.m. It’s six furlongs for fillies and mares 3 and older.

It’s a tiny field of five with Miss Sunset the 6-5 favorite. She’s been running mostly in stakes races, including a second by a nose in the Grade 1 Madison last out at Keeneland. She’s nine of 16 lifetime and three for nine at Santa Anita. She is unbeaten in three tries at six furlongs. Julian Leparoux, in town to ride Itsinthepost on Saturday, sticks around to ride her.

The second favorite is Marley’s Freedom at 7-5. She’s making her first start for Baffert after winning her last race, an allowance by 2 ¼ lengths for Bob Hess, Jr.

The other stakes is the $75,000 Black Pearl for 3-year-old fillies going 6 ½ furlongs down the hillside turf course. The turf races on Sunday are all the odd numbered races.

The field sizes, thin early, are as follows: 6, 6, 6, 7, 6, 9, 7, 5, 9.

Big Races review

A look at graded stakes or races worth more $100,000 or more on Saturday.

Churchill: Grade 3 $100,000 Winning Colors Stakes, fillies and mares 3 and up. Winner: Miss Kentucky ($9.20)

Santa Anita: Grade 1 $500,000 Gold Cup at Santa Anita, 3 and up, 1 ¼ miles. Winner: Accelerate ($5.80)

Belmont: $100,000 Paradise Creek Stakes, 3 year olds, 7 furlongs on turf. Winner: Gidu ($2.90)

Monmouth: Grade 3 $100,000 Salvatore Mile Stakes, 3 and up, 1 mile. Winner: Page McKenney ($17.60)

Arlington: Grade 3 $100,000 Arlington Classic Stakes, 3 years old, 1 1/16 miles on turf. Winner: Ezmosh ($3.00)

Santa Anita: Grade 2 $200,000 Charles Whittingham Stakes, 3 and up, 1 ¼ miles on turf. Winner: Itsinthepost ($3.80)

Monmouth: Grade 2 $200,000 Monmouth Stakes, 3 and up, 1 mile on turf. Winner: Page McKenney ($17.60)

Santa Anita: Grade 1 $300,000 Gamely Stakes, fillies and mares 3 and up, 1 1/8 miles on turf. Winner: Sophie P ($30.00)

Big races preview

A look at graded stakes or races worth more $100,000 or more on Sunday. All times PDT:

1:57 Woodbine: Grade 2 $175,000 Nassau Stakes, fillies and mares 3 and up, 1 mile on the turf. Favorite: Starship Jubilee (6-5)

4:18 Santa Anita: Grade 3 $100,000 Desert Stormer Stakes, fillies and mares 3 and up, 6 furlongs. Favorite: Miss Sunset (6-5)

4:42 Lone Star: Grade 3 $200,000 Lone Star Park Handicap, 3 and up, 1 1/16 miles. Favorite: Mubtaahij (1-1)

Bob Ike’s SA play of the day

NINTH RACE: No. 5 Data Central (4-1)

Comebacker from the Keith Desormeaux barn showed ability as a 2-year-old last summer and should be set for a good comeback effort. He shortens up to a sprint but appears to have trained well and might take to this downhill turf layout as third choice on the morning line.

Saturday’s result: Favorite Baby Gronk finished second again and price contender Old Indian Trick finished a very distant third, so no glory in the exacta or trifecta.

Bob Ike is a Partner/VP of Horsebills.com (here’s a video) and the proprietor of BobIkePicks.com (full-card picks, 3 Best Plays and betting strategy).

Ed Burgart LA play of the day

FIFTH RACE: No. 1 In Control (7-2)

Trainer Justin Clark has always had the answer with this gelding who is looking for his first victory in 14 months. He won twice for Clark last spring before switching barns after moving to Northern California. Since rejoining the Clark shedrow two months ago, he has improved with each of his three 2018 local starts and got hooked in a speed duel in last runnerup try. He doesn’t need the lead to win and should get fast pace to chase with speedsters Avila Beach and Tenille in this field.

Final thoughts

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And now the stars of the show, Saturday’s results and Sunday’s entries.

ALLABOUTMIKE sped to the early lead a bit off the rail, angled in and set the pace inside, responded when challenged on the backstretch, inched away again on the second turn and drew clear under urging then steady handling late. SPITFIRE hopped some at the start, saved ground stalking the pace throughout and gained the place. DEFIANTLY stalked off the rail, bid outside the winner on the backstretch and into the second turn, continued outside the runner-up in midstretch and bested the others. SWINGING STAR angled in and saved ground chasing the pace, came a bit off the rail in the stretch and lacked the needed rally. UBER STAR settled off the pace inside, came out a bit on the second turn, split rivals in the stretch and could not summon the necessary late kick. ROYAL OPERA HOUSE (IRE) chased three deep on the first turn then outside a rival early on the backstretch, continued three deep leaving the backstretch and on the second turn and into the stretch and weakened. RALIS bobbled some at the break, chased outside a rival then between horses, continued alongside a foe on the second turn and weakened in the drive.

LUCKY STAXX pulled and stalked between horses then a bit off the rail while in close off heels into the turn, came out into the stretch, bid outside the runner-up under left handed urging in deep stretch and gamely prevailed. ISEE IT IN HISEYES dueled outside a rival, took the lead on the turn, drifted out some into the stretch, inched away, fought back in deep stretch and was edged late. WHERESTHEMONEYJACK chased inside, came a bit off the rail leaving the turn and into the stretch, came out in the drive and picked up the show. CAUSEWAY RUNNER stalked three deep then outside a rival, came out into the stretch and weakened. CAPTAIN WALKER had speed between horses then dueled inside, fought back on the turn and into the stretch and weakened in the final furlong. SHARON'S FURY between rivals early, saved ground stalking the pace, continued inside in the stretch and also weakened. MAGICAL MORE broke slowly, dropped well back and was pulled up leaving the backstretch and walked off.

PHANTOM PROTON dueled five wide on the backstretch and into the turn then three deep midway on the bend, battled outside the runner-up into the stretch, had that one slip away in the drive then came back on under left handed urging to gamely prevail. QUEEN LAILA had good early speed and dueled four wide between horses then between foes on the turn, angled to the rail into the stretch, kicked clear but could not hold off the winner. TIME FOR EBBY dueled between horses, stalked off the rail on the turn, came out into the stretch and picked up the show. MUNNY SPUNT went up inside to duel for the lead, fell back some leaving the turn, came out into the stretch and weakened. PRINCESS PRINCESS dueled three deep between foes, dropped back off the rail on the turn, gave way and was eased in the final sixteenth.

ROCKIN READY stalked the pace just off the rail, bid outside the pacesetter in upper stretch to gain the lead, kicked clear under left handed urging, drifted in and proved best. JAZAALAH pulled and chased a bit off the rail, swung out into the stretch and just held second. CURLIN'S JOURNEY chased inside then a bit off the rail, came out leaving the second turn and four wide into the stretch and was edged ford the place. PARTY DANCER saved ground chasing the pace, went around a rival past midstretch and lacked the needed rally. SHE'S FUNNY sped between horses to the early lead, angled in on the first turn, set the pace inside, offered little resistance when challenged in upper stretch and weakened in the final furlong. FICANAS (GB) broke slowly, angled in then drifted out a bit into the first turn, angled back to the inside, saved ground, came out in midstretch and lacked the necessary late kick. FASHION BRAND three deep into the first turn, angled in on the backstretch and saved ground off the pace to the stretch and also lacked a rally. RESOLU between horses early, angled in and chased inside then a bit off thee rail, went outside a rival into the stretch and did not rally. STILL A FUNNY GIRL pulled some and chased outside a rival, dropped back off the rail on the second turn and gave way.

ACCELERATE saved ground stalking the pace, came out leaving the second turn, swung out then drifted four wide into the stretch, gained the lead under urging three deep in midstretch, drifted in and won clear. DR. DORR had speed three deep then inched away, angled in and set the pace inside, inched away again a half mile out, fought back on the second turn and until midstretch, could not match the winner thereafter but gamely turned back a rival to save the place. CITY OF LIGHT stalked the pace off the rail, bid outside the runner-up early on the backstretch then tracked again approaching the second turn, re-bid alongside that rival on that turn and into the stretch, battled between horses in midstretch and bested the others. PAVEL three deep early, chased outside the winner, came out leaving the second turn and three wide into the stretch and lacked a rally. PRINCE OF ARABIA chased a bit off the rail then inside, came out slightly into the stretch then weakened along the fence. FULL OF LUCK (CHI) broke out a bit, angled in and saved ground off the pace to the stretch and lacked a response in the drive.

ITSINTHEPOST (FR) three deep on the hill, stalked outside a rival, came out into the stretch, bid three wide in midstretch then gained the lead outside the runner-up in deep stretch under urging and inched away late. KENJISSTORM stalked outside a rival or off the rail, bid outside the pacesetter early on the backstretch then tracked that one just off the rail a half mile out, bid again alongside that foe on the second turn and into the stretch, gained a short lead between horses in midstretch, fought back inside the winner in deep stretch and bested the others. FRANK CONVERSATION chased a bit off the rail then inside to the stretch, came out some in the drive and went around the pacesetter in late stretch for the show. WHAT A VIEW took the early lead and angled in, set the pace inside, inched away from the runner-up a half mile out, battled inside on the second turn, fought back along the rail in midstretch and lost third late. FLAMBOYANT (FR) saved ground stalking the pace, came a bit off the rail leaving the backstretch and on the second turn, entered the stretch three deep and lacked the needed rally. SYNTAX (IRE) four wide on the hill, angled in and chased outside a rival then three deep into and on the second turn and four wide into the stretch and weakened.

FASHIONABLY FAST dueled between horses then a bit off the rail into the stretch, fought back under urging along the inside in the final furlong and gamely prevailed. BABY GRONK had good early speed and dueled four wide then three deep on the turn, battled outside the winner into and through the stretch but could not get by. OLD INDIAN TRICK went up inside to duel for the lead, fought back on the turn and just held third. CAYATE had speed between horses then stalked between foes, found the rail into the stretch, came out some in the drive and was edged for third. GIT ON YOUR PULPIT dueled three deep between horses then stalked outside a rival on the turn, came three wide into the stretch and weakened. JONAS stalked three wide between horses, angled in leaving the turn, entered the stretch outside a rival and also weakened. PIG IRON angled in and stalked inside, came out into the stretch and also weakened. BLACK STORM close up stalking the pace four wide to the stretch, had little left in the final furlong. NORTHRNDANCRSGHOST broke a bit slowly, settled off the rail then angled in some for the turn and gave way in the drive.

SOPHIE P (GB) in close quarters between horses early, angled in and pulled some while saving ground stalking the pace, came out into the stretch, bid three wide under urging in deep stretch and gamely prevailed. MADAM DANCEALOT (IRE) settled a bit off the rail then inside, moved up along the fence leaving the second turn and into the stretch, bid along the rail in deep stretch and continued gamely to the end. MADAME STRIPES (ARG) had speed three deep then outside a rival, inched away nearing the first turn, set the pace inside, responded when challenged into the second turn, inched away again on that turn, came a bit off the rail into the stretch and held on gamely but was edged between the top pair late. BEAU RECALL (IRE) broke out a bit, angled in and settled off the pace inside, came out in the stretch and finished with interest to best the others. HAWKSMOOR (IRE) stumbled badly in a slow start, angled in and settled outside a rival then a bit off the rail on the backstretch and second turn and into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. MIDNIGHT CROSSING (IRE) between horses early, pressed the pace inside then stalked a bit off the rail, bid again outside the pacesetter into the second turn, tracked alongside the winner leaving that turn, came three deep into the stretch and weakened in the final furlong. MOPOTISM had speed between horses then stalked outside a rival, came three wide into the stretch and weakened.

IT'S A NEW YEAR stalked outside a rival then bid between horses to duel for the lead, took the advantage on the turn, inched away into the stretch, kicked clear under urging, drifted in late and proved best. LIVIN ON PRAYER broke a bit slowly, chased toward the inside, split horses a half mile out, continued just off the inside, came out into the stretch and gained the place. CATABILITY settled outside then off the rail, split rivals into the turn, continued off the inside into the stretch and bested the others. DERBY FACTOR settled off the rail, went outside a rival leaving the turn and three deep into the stretch and improved position. PIONEEROFTHESTORM dueled between horses then stalked on the turn, found the inside into the stretch, was in tight off heels in midstretch, went between horses and weakened. IMAGINEIAMFASTEST bobbled at the start, chased between horses then three deep leaving the backstretch, came under urging on the turn, entered the stretch three wide and did not rally. NORTH COUNTY GUY a bit slow to begin, went up inside to duel for the lead, battled along the rail on the turn and weakened in the drive. FLYNN had speed outside then dueled four wide, battled three deep on the turn and also weakened. FOR A GOOD CAUSE chased three deep, angled to the inside leaving the turn, cut the corner into the stretch and lacked a further response. KATZUMOTO between horses early, chased a bit off the rail, dropped back leaving the turn and weakened.