Omaha Beach filly very determined in Saratoga maiden score

Alys Beach became the fifth First-Crop winner for Omaha Beach on July 30 at Saratoga in a 6 ½-furlong 2-year-old filly maiden special weight race on the main track.

The outcome in a very thrilling race was not decided until the last stride. Alys Beach, who was making her career debut, was fourth in between horses as the field made its way through a half-mile in :45.73. Mugen had the lead until a little less than a furlong to run, when Alys Beach passed her on the inside and Life Talk on the outside. Life Talk looked to have the momentum, but Alys Beach dug in gamely and stuck her head in front just prior to the wire.

“I got familiar with her in her last work,” winning rider Tyler Gaffalione said. “She went really well that day. We sat outside a horse and she kicked to the wire full of energy and galloped out strong. She showed she has a great mind.”

The victory was worth $57,750 for owner Greg Tramontin, who purchased the chestnut filly for $120,000 at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling sale.

Bred by Jeff Kerber, Alys Beach is the first foal to race out of Pray For Leslie. She produced a yearling filly by Vekoma and foaled another, by Authentic, on Apr. 4.

Omaha Beach’s five winners and $309,892 in progeny earnings both are third-most on this year’s First-Crop sire list. The multiple Grade 1 winner stood this year for $30,000 live foal after breeding more than 200 mares each of his first three years at stud.