Kentucky Derby favorite pulled out of race after discovery of respiratory problem
Most of what we thought we knew about Saturday’s 145th Kentucky Derby changed in an instant on Wednesday evening when favorite Omaha Beach was scratched from the race.
Churchill Downs announced that the Arkansas Derby champion was diagnosed with an entrapped epiglottis, an abnormality to the horse’s airway. Trainer Richard Mandella told the track that the respiratory condition was found after a cough and scope.
“After training this morning we noticed him cough a few times,” Mandella said. “It caused us to scope him and we found an entrapped epiglottis. We can’t fix it this week so we’ll have to have a procedure done in a few days and probably be out of training for three weeks. We’ll have to figure out a whole new game plan.”
The departure of Omaha Beach, who was installed Tuesday as the 4-1 morning-line favorite, opens a spot in the field for also-eligible contender Bodexpress.
Bodexpress will be the No. 21 horse in the program and move into the No. 20 position in the starting gate, with all the other outside horses moving inside one spot to close the gap left by Omaha Beach in the No. 12 position.
Omaha Beach’s defection represents a heartbreaking outcome for owner Rick Porter of Fox Hill Farms and trainer Richard Mandella, who were hoping to team up for the first Kentucky Derby victory of their long careers.
“It’s been a devastating thing, but we have to do what’s right for the horse,” Mandella told The Associated Press.
Mandella was scheduled to meet with the media at Churchill Downs on Thursday at 8 a.m. to discuss Omaha Beach’s exit and future plans for the colt.
Meanwhile, jockey Mike Smith, who won the Kentucky Derby and, ultimately, the Triple Crown aboard Justify last year, is suddenly without a ride.
Smith, who rode both Santa Anita Derby winner Roadster and Omaha Beach in the leadup to the Kentucky Derby, chose April 16 to go with Omaha Beach. Florent Geroux took over the mount on Roadster.
Bob Baffert, who trained Justify and will guide Roadster in Saturday’s race, told Yahoo Sports after Wednesday night’s news broke that he would stick with Geroux.
“I’m all in with Flo,” he said. “I feel horrible for Richard and Mike.”
Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia reset the morning-line odds after the announcement Wednesday night.
The top betting choice is now Game Winner, another Baffert trainee, who was originally the 5-1 second choice behind Omaha Beach but is now the 9-2 favorite.
Game Winner, owned by Gary and Mary West, is ridden by Joel Rosario.
Co-second choices in the Derby are now Roadster and Improbable at 5-1.
The scratch of Omaha Beach is the most stunning in Kentucky Derby history since A.P. Indy was removed from the 1992 race with a quarter crack in his hoof the morning of the Run for the Roses.
Bodexpress, trained by Gustavo Delgado and ridden by Chris Landeros, enters the race at morning-line odds of 30-1.
Bodexpress comes to Kentucky off a second-place finish in the Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park on March 30. He has yet to win a race in five career starts but has finished second three times.
Kentucky Derby field with updated odds
Updated morning-line odds for the Kentucky Derby were announced Wednesday night by Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia:
1. War of Will (15-1)
2. Tax (20-1)
3. By My Standards (15-1)
4. Gray Magician (50-1)
5. Improbable (5-1)
6. Vekoma (15-1)
7. Maximum Security (8-1)
8. Tacitus (8-1)
9. Plus Que Parfait (30-1)
10. Cutting Humor (30-1)
11. Haikal (30-1)
12. Omaha Beach (Scratched)
13. Code of Honor (12-1)
14. Win Win Win (12-1)
15. Master Fencer (50-1)
16. Game Winner (9-2)
17. Roadster (5-1)
18. Long Range Toddy (30-1)
19. Spinoff (30-1)
20. Country House (30-1)
21. Bodexpress (30-1)
This story was originally published May 1, 2019 at 6:35 PM.