HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Within a matter of hours, and just two days before the fourth annual running of the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1), both Omaha Beach, the 7/5 morning line favorite, and Spun to Run, the 7/2 second choice, have scratched.
Thursday morning began with news from trainer Juan Carlos Guerrero that Spun to Run would not compete due to an apparent skin disease.
“After he came to Palm Meadows (Training Center), we noticed he was a little hot, so we clipped his hair,” Guerrero said. “Then two weeks later, we noticed some spots, hives on his body. We wanted to run, but he’s a little hot and sore and we always want to do the right thing for the horse. It’s unfortunate, but we want the best for him.”
Shortly thereafter, the Daily Racing Form’s Jay Privman first reported that trainer Richard Mandella was removing Omaha Beach from competition after the colt appeared to be off in his right hind leg following a morning jog.
“It was observed this morning that Omaha Beach had light swelling in his right hind fetlock,” Mandella said. “While we are disappointed to have to miss the Pegasus World Cup Invitational, Omaha Beach’s safety and well-being comes first and we wanted to do what was best for him. He has been a great pleasure to have around the barn and we are grateful for the opportunity to train such a magnificent horse.”
This is the second time that Omaha Beach was a late defection for a major race. On May 1, 2019, just three days before the Kentucky Derby (G1), the Fox Hill Farms-owned son of War Front was scratched as the 4/1 morning line favorite for the Run for the Roses. The reason for that scratch was an entrapped epiglottis that required surgery.
With the top two morning line favorites removed from the race, the new bettors’ choice is expected to be the Bob Baffert-trained Mucho Gusto, whose was named the 9/2 third choice after drawing psot 10. Baffert previously won the inaugural running in 2017 with Arrogate.
Now down to a field of 10, here is how the revised field looks:
| PP # | HORSE | JOCKEY | TRAINER | ML ODDS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | True Timber | Joe Bravo | Kiaran McLaughlin | 20-1 |
| 2 | Tax | Jose Ortiz | Danny Gargan | 12-1 |
| 3 | Diamond Oops | Julien Leparoux | Patrick Biancone | 20-1 |
| 4 | Seeking the Soul | John Velazquez | Dallas Stewart | 30-1 |
| SCRATCHED | Omaha Beach | Mike Smith | Richard Mandella | SCRATCHED |
| 6 | Higher Power | Flavien Prat | John Sadler | 6-1 |
| 7 | War Story | Joel Rosario | Elizabeth Dobles | 30-1 |
| 8 | Mr Freeze | Luis Saez | Dale Romans | 30-1 |
| SCRATCHED | Spun to Run | Javier Castellano | Juan Carlos Guerrero | SCRATCHED |
| 10 | Mucho Gusto | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | Bob Baffert | 9-2 |
| 11 | Tenfold | Tyler Gaffalione | Steve Asmussen | 30-1 |
| 12 | Bodexpress | Emisael Jaramillo | Gustavo Delgado | 30-1 |
