Right from the moment Omaha was born, the anticipations regarding what he is capable of and what he must achieve had been assumed and he always, exceeded them. Born to a Triple Crown winner, the pressure of performing was huge but Omaha delivered it all, taking each one of them in his inherited eliminator style.
Omaha was foaled in 1932 at the Claiborne Farm that has bred numerous winners over the ages. 1930 Triple Crown winner, Gallant Fox was by Sir Gallahad III of European roots who was a leading sire for both male and female horses. His dam, Flambino was a multiple stakes winner and also the dam to Flares and Fleam who later achieved great success as thoroughbred race horses.
Omaha’s dam was out of Flambette; this mare had already won the Kentucky Oaks in 1921 and produced Gallette who later produced the champion filly Gallorette, the third top filly American continent has ever witnessed.
Omaha was owned by the same farm that also owned his sire, the Belair Stud Farm and was also trained by his sire’s trainer, Sunny ‘Jim’ Fitzsimmons. Omaha’s racing’s maiden started with a mild defeat to Sir Lamorah and continued in a slightly less than required thrust to win in his future two races, the Hotel Stakes and the Saratoga Special in both of which he finished fourth, behind Balladier and Boxthorn respectively. These would later witness Omaha avenging his losses soon next year as a three year old.
Omaha next ran the Sanford Memorial. He finished well in the money placing second ahead of Balladier but behind Psychic Bid who would later become his prime target in the Triple Crown.
Come Hopeful Stakes and Omaha loses again, he tried his bit but Psychic Bid kept him well behind to win the race yet another time. Second place finisher Rosemont also emerges as his yet another rival as Omaha prepares himself for a solid return next year. This was struggle time.
Balladier returned to news with his win at the Champagne Stakes, Omaha finished second by a nose.
Omaha continues his losing spree in Futurity and the Junior Champion Stakes finishing behind Chance Sun and Sailor Beware.
With winter, Omaha matured into a stronger three years old, this time making a comeback with a win at an allowance race.
Wood Memorial happened next and Omaha again finished third but successfully qualified for the Derby. He was the second favourite to the Man o’ War’s grandchild and a prodigy, Nellie Flag, the mount for champion jockey, Eddie Arcaro. Psychic Bid was back, Boxthorn was also lined up and Wood Memorial winner and runner up, Today and Plat Eye also competed for the Derby. The field was a potential assassin for Omaha’s dreams but the Belair colt has great energy packed in for the event.
All his rivals were beautifully eliminated and Omaha won the Run for the Roses by a 1 ½ lengths. Preakness was next.
Omaha won the Preakness Stakes effortlessly ahead of Firethorn and Psychic Bid who managed a decent third place finish. Belmont Stakes was next but Omaha’s connections slated him for yet another start in the Wither Stakes where he lost by 1 ½ lengths to Rosemont that greatly affected his odds at the Belmont Stakes.
At the final day of the Triple Crown, Belmont Park presented a sloppy track and Omaha was managing a bare keeping up act when he suddenly burst into speed and overtook the entire field to win the trophy and become America’s Third Triple Crown winner.
Omaha’s most crucial races later comprised of the Ascot Gold Cup in England which he preceded with two victories on the foreign land in Victor Wild Stakes and the Queen’s Plate. However, Omaha failed to capture the Ascot Gold Cup which later was avenged by his sibling from the same dam, Flares.
Omaha was ranked 61 on the BloodHorse top 100 thoroughbreds of all time and is still the only Triple Crown winner to be sired by another Triple Crown winner.
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