King of the Hill

After announcing that he was cancer-free in August 2017, longtime owner Rick Porter wasted little time reloading his stable at that summer's yearling sales.

At Keeneland September alone, Porter's Fox Hill Farm purchased 10 yearlings for a total of $3.025 million. And that group doesn't include this term's GI Arkansas Derby winner and probable GI Kentucky Derby favorite Omaha Beach (War Front), who was acquired privately from the Eaton Sales consignment at that sale after RNA'ing for $625,000.

“[Trainer] Larry [Jones] had told Reiley McDonald, who was consigning the horse for Coolmore, that he thought he was the best-looking physical he had seen in the sale,” Porter said during NTRA's National Teleconference Thursday.

“But he didn't put him on the short list to show me because he knew I wasn't a fan of grass horses, particularly, and he was going to bring too much money with that pedigree and those looks. Looking back on it, I wouldn't have been surprised if he brought a couple million dollars. I don't know what happened– he had a little tiny vet issue, but my vet didn't have a problem with it. We called [Dr.] Larry Bramlage and asked him to look at the X-rays. And he said, 'Rick, don't let this interfere with you purchasing him.' I made Reiley an offer and he took it and the rest is history.”

On the board in his first three attempts on grass, including a pair of narrow defeats, Omaha Beach broke through at fifth asking in a big way with a nine-length graduation going seven furlongs in the Santa Anita slop. He defeated champion Game Winner (Candy Ride {Arg}) in his first attempt in stakes company in a thrilling renewal of the split-division GII Rebel S., then added the Arkansas Derby in style with a career-best 101 Beyer Speed Figure.

Omaha Beach, a half-brother to champion Take Charge Brandi (Giant's Causeway), was produced by a daughter of blue hen mare Take Charge Lady (Dehere).

“It's great to have another good horse,” said Porter, who campaigned 2011 Horse of the Year Havre de Grace (Saint Liam) as well as the brilliant two-time champion Songbird (Medaglia d'Oro). “It really came at the right time for me. And I'm just very fortunate.”

Porter has been represented by five previous Kentucky Derby starters, headed by runner-up finishes via Hard Spun (Danzig) in 2007 and the filly Eight Belles (Unbridled's Song), who tragically broke down after the wire, the following year.

“I'll never forget it obviously, but I won't be thinking about it when we run in the Derby,” Porter said of the late two-time graded winner. “It was a fluke. She took a bad step, then another one. I don't dwell on it, is all.”

Post-time favorites are a perfect six-for-six since the 'Road to the Kentucky Derby' points series began with the 2013 Run for the Roses. Porter also co-owned Friesan Fire (A.P. Indy), who finished 18th as the 7-2 choice in Mine That Bird (Birdstone)'s Derby in 2009.

“I feel very good about Omaha Beach's chances,” Porter said. “It gets me a little nervous when we've got all this hype about him. I was fairly confident when Hard Spun ran in 2007. Friesan Fire went off the favorite and beat one horse… I feel like I have a better chance than I did before, but it's 20 horses–it's a tough thing–and there's a lot of good competition. We're just hoping for a good trip.”

Omaha Beach's Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella is winless from six previous Derby starters, with his best finish coming with Soul of the Matter in 1994.

“It means a lot to me, Mike [Smith] and Dick,” Porter said. “This may be my last shot. I think every owner would like to win the Kentucky Derby.”

Porter concluded, “We won a lot of big races. But this would be the icing on the cake.”