Hot Beach wins Keeneland’s Limestone S. for sizzling Omaha Beach

Hot Beach’s four-length win in Friday’s $250,000 Limestone S. at Keeneland enhanced what has been superlative week for Omaha Beach.

In the past six days, Omaha Beach has accounted for sharp allowance and maiden special weight winners at Keeneland, a maiden winner at Gulfstream Park, and graded stakes placings for both Regulatory Risk and E J Won the Cup. The stellar results have put Omaha Beach atop the Second-Crop Sire list with over $1.6 million in progeny earnings, three stakes winners and nine stakes horses.

Hot Beach, who was Omaha Beach’s first stakes winner last year when she $150,000 Debutante S. at Churchill Downs, was making her first start since late October.

At the break of Friday’s 5 ½-furlong sprint, Hot Beach rocketed out of the gate and took the lead immediately from her outside post in the field of eight 3-year-olds. With none of her foes able to match her speed, Hot Beach sped through the first quarter-mile in :22.24 and had a three-length lead turning for home. She skipped over the sloppy surface to win handily in 1:05.70.

“I tried to follow my good buddy (trainer) Wesley Ward’s instructions over the years: Leave there running,” said winning trainer Brian Lynch. “I hope (she’s gotten better); I hope she makes this transition from two to three (years old).”

Hot Beach, who placed in both the Pocahontas S. (G3) and Myrtlewood S. last year as well, is now 2-2-1 in five starts and has earned $320,883 for Boardshorts Stables LLC.

The winner was bred in Kentucky by Cobalt Investments, LLC and sold for $400,000 at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Select Saratoga Yearlings sale.