4th-GPX, $40,250, Alw, Opt. Clm. ($25,000), NW1X, 4yo/up, 1m, 1:33 (NTR), ft.
NORMANDY INVASION (c, 4, Tapit–Boston Lady, by Boston Harbor), off since a middle-move fourth in the GI Kentucky Derby last May, stamped himself as a potential force in this year's handicap division with a geared-down 7 3/4-length romp. Taking up a perfect drafting spot along the inside in fourth early, the prohibitive 1-5 favorite was given his cue by Javier Castellano around the turn to assert four deep. He quickly settled the issue from there, and won as he pleased. Longshot Chee (Empire Maker) was second. The final time shaved 0.58 seconds off the previous track record held by Commentator (Distorted Humor). “When they train as well as this horse and they physically look that good–he's never looked better in my opinion–you're quietly confident they'll go out there in the afternoon and do it,” winning trainer Chad Brown said. “That's the final piece of the puzzle. They have to go out there and do it. We were confident he was sound and training better than ever. We were confident to put Javier right back on this horse. They get along well, and hopefully this is a start to a great year for this horse.” Brown did not pinpoint a next start, but indicated it would come around two turns. Normandy Invasion aired by 9 1/4 lengths when stretched to this trip at Aqueduct in November of 2012, and stamped himself as one towatch on the Triple Crown trail when beaten just a nose by Overanalyze (Dixie Union) in that venue's GII Remsen S. later that month. A close-up fifth with trouble as the chalk in the GII Risen Star S. at Fair Grounds last February, the $230,000 KEEAPR buy stretched Verrazano (More Than Ready) to 3/4 of a length in the GI Wood Memorial to earn his spot in the Derby starting gate. He looked like a winner in the Churchill slop when he struck the front turning for home, but grew leg weary late to finish 3 1/2 lengths behind Orb (Malibu Moon). His connections opted to skip the GI Preakness S. and GI Belmont S. in favor of a freshening. After he experienced some hoof trouble, they decided to extend that vacation to focus on a 4-year-old campaign and were rewarded for that decision here. Sales history: $145,000 RNA yrl '11 KEESEP; $230,000 2yo 2012 KEEAPR. Lifetime Record: GISP, 7-2-2-0, $424,390. Click for the brisnet.com chart or VIDEO.
O-Fox Hill Farms Inc. B-Betz/Kidder/Gainesway/Graves/
DJ Stable/Cole (KY). T-Chad Brown.
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