'Omaha' Return to California On Hold

Omaha Beach (War Front), the would-be favorite in the GI Kentucky Derby who was scratched with an entrapped epiglottis three days before the race, will have his return to California delayed. The son of the immaculately bred Charming (Seeking the Gold) underwent surgery at Rood and Riddle May 3, but is not quite ready to head back to the Richard Mandella barn at Santa Anita.

“He's still at WinStar Farm in Kentucky, but he's not quite healed up yet,” the Hall of Fame trainer said Saturday morning. “He'll be on a plane to California but we don't have a schedule to know when that is.

“It shouldn't be too long, perhaps a week or so. He is healing from the procedure, but it's just not healed enough yet to ship him right now.”