Fox Hill Farms' Normandy Invasion (Tapit) rejoined the Fair Grounds string of trainer Larry Jones Jan. 29 after recovering from surgery on a fractured right sesamoid last October and has his connections thinking big.
“If Normandy Invasion can hold up and [Dr. Larry] Bramlage [who performed the surgery and oversaw the rehabilitation of the 5-year-old horse] thinks he has a good chance, he could have a very good year,” said Fox Hill Farm principal Rick Porter. “He is probably as good or better than any horse I've ever had other than [2011 Horse of the Year and Champion Older Filly or Mare] Havre de Grace. If he can stay sound, he's going to make a lot of noise.”
After failing to meet his reserve when offered as a KEESEP yearling, Normandy Invasion fetched $230,000 at the following year's KEEAPR sale and broke his maiden by 9 1/4 lengths at second asking before closing fast to miss by a nose to Overanalyze (Dixie Union) in the GII Remsen S. Second to Verrazano (More Than Ready) in the GI Wood Memorial, he carried the lead into the final furlong of the GI Kentucky Derby, but weakened late to finish fourth, 3 1/2 lengths in back of Orb (Malibu Moon).
The bay set a Gulfstream track record in taking a one–mile allowance last February, but was runner-up to Eclipse finalist Palace Malice (Curlin) in the GII New Orleans H. in March and was last seen finishing down the field behind that rival in the GI Met Mile June 7.
Porter elected to move Normandy Invasion from Chad Brown to Larry Jones following the Met and the colt worked three times at Delaware Park in September before being diagnosed with his injury.
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