Longer races often make or break a lot of Triple Crown aspirants. 

His connections are hoping that Virginia-bred, Maryland-based Omaha Omaha – entered in this weekend’s nine-furlong Withers Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct – falls into the former category.

“The further he goes, the better he gets,” says trainer Michael Gorham.

The Withers, one of three major Kentucky Derby preps Saturday, offers 20 Derby points to the winner. Omaha Omaha currently has five.

Coming off two eye-catching victories, Omaha Omaha made his stakes debut last out in the one-mile Jerome Stakes Jan. 4. Despite trailing the field for most of the race, he made a strong move through the stretch to grab second behind runaway winner Cyclone State.

“Nothing’s as exciting as watching Omaha Omaha close like he’s running through an airport trying to make a connection,” says Nate Nelson, who owns the colt in partnership with Gary Carlson and Shawn Sullivan as On Your Left Racing.

Omaha Omaha is 4-1 on the morning line for the Withers. Flashy last-out maiden winner Captain Cook is the 5-2 favorite.

Though Omaha Omaha is a Virginia-bred – owing, Nelson says, to the state’s great breeding incentives – the men behind On Your Left Racing are based in Minnesota. They decided to give horse ownership a go in 2018 and eventually purchased two mares at auction – one of whom would eventually foal out Omaha Omaha.

His dam, England Swings, is a full sister to champion turf router Big Blue Kitten, which lends credence to the idea that Omaha Omaha will get better going longer. On Your Left Racing picked her up in foal to Lemon Drop Kid for $47,000 at Keeneland’s January 2020 mixed sale.

“He (Shawn Sullivan) liked her, and liked her stamina. And he’s got Audible’s speed, strength, and hopefully a little bit of that Into Mischief luck,” Nelson says. “We don’t know 100% what we’re looking for other than, ‘Wow’ – but the people who knew stuff always liked him.”

On Your Left Racing also owns Chipotle, a homebred by Mitole, who sped to an allowance victory last week at Laurel Park. With two budding stable stars, and foals on the way, Nelson is excited about what the future holds for the partnership.

“We feel very, very fortunate. We’ve gone months and months without any hope of making money, so now we’re really enjoying this,” he says.

Oh, and about the colt’s name: his sire is Audible, which obviously brings to mind Peyton Manning’s famous pre-snap cadence. 

Ironic, Nelson jokes, given that Gorham is a longtime Patriots fan.

Football rivalries aside, though, his trainer is optimistic about Omaha Omaha’s chances in this weekend’s Withers – and his career going forward.

“He’s pretty straightforward. He just likes to train,” Gorham says. “Now that he’s started getting the hang of it, he runs big.”

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