Kentucky Derby favorite Omaha Beach scratched from race

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

Nation & World
By Natalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
May 3, 2019
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The favorite is out. Omaha Beach, who was favored to win the Kentucky Derby Saturday, has been taken out of the race because of a breathing issue that trainers have found out will require surgery.

Omaha Beach has an entrapped epiglottis, or swollen throat tissue that constricted his breathing, ESPN reported.

His trainer, Richard Mandella, said Omaha Beach could not run in that condition when he spoke to media on Thursday.

Former Kentucky Derby entrant Omaha Beach stands in his stall at Churchill Downs Thursday, May 2, 2019, in Louisville, Ky. The horse, which was the favorite in the race, dropped out because of a health issue. The 145th running of the Kentucky Derby is scheduled for Saturday, May 4.

Credit: AP Photo/Charlie Riedel

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Credit: AP Photo/Charlie Riedel

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"Sending him out to run Saturday would've been like sending him to war with a switch in his hand," Mandella told ESPN.

Omaha Beach had been coughing during a gallop Wednesday and had a throat issue more than a week earlier that had been treated, but it returned and it was too close to the race, Mandella said.

Explore>>Kentucky Derby 2019: What time, what channel, who is running, what are the odds

The horse may be back to run once he recovers in either the late summer or fall.

Omaha Beach had been a 4-1 favorite and was assigned the 12th post position, The Washington Post reported.

Game Winner is now the new favorite with 9-2 odds, according to the Post.

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About the Author

Natalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk