Normandy Invasion continued to please his connections on
Sunday morning, emerging from Saturday’s record-setting return to the races in
fine fashion, trainer Chad Brown said.
Making his first start since finishing fourth in the Kentucky Derby last May, Normandy Invasion rolled by 7
3/4 lengths in his
comeback. His time of 1:33.13 for one mile broke the main track record of
1:33.71 set by Commentator in 2008.
“He came out of his race in good shape so far,” Brown said. “We were very
pleased with his performance. It was great to see the horse get back to the
races. Hopefully, this will be a good start to the year for him.”
A foot abscess and other minor ailments cut Normandy
Invasion’s three-year-old season short, but he had been breezing steadily since late
December at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream’s satellite training facility in Palm Beach
County.
“He really exceeded all expectations,” Brown said.
“Thankfully, he looked good this morning when he came back. It’s on to bigger
races, hopefully.”
Owner Rick Porter of Fox Hill Farms mentioned both the Grade 2, $400,000 New
Orleans Handicap at Fair Grounds on March 29 and the Grade 2, $500,000 Oaklawn
Handicap at Oaklawn Park on April 12 as possible next starts. Both
races are run at 1 1/8 miles.
“We’re going to see how the horse trains before we commit
him to a race,” Brown said, “but we’re keeping all of our options open.”
Coup de Grace, 10th of 11 from the rail in the Holy Bull at Gulfstream on January
25, worked a half-mile in 48 2/5
seconds Sunday morning at Palm Meadows for Brown. The three-year-old Tapit colt,
also owned by Fox Hill, is nominated to Saturday’s Grade 2, $150,000 Swale at seven
furlongs.
“He breezed really well,” Brown said. “We still don’t know
exactly where we’re going to run him yet. We’re discussing that with Mr. Porter,
so we’re just going to take it day-by-day with him.”
Brown said both Storming Inti, a winner of four straight
races including a pair of Gulfstream stakes, and French import Pleuven are both
under consideration for the Grade 3, $150,000 Palm Beach, also on Saturday.
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