Battle of Normandy needs weather to cooperate to break losing streak

Battle of Normandy was rained out of his intended 4-year-old debut on April 10 when turf races at Keeneland were moved onto the main track. Alas, a similar fate might await the colt Tuesday at Churchill Downs.

Battle of Normandy is part of an overflow field entered in race 5, a first-level allowance carded for 1 1/16 miles over Churchill’s refurbished turf course, which, going into the meet, has received many positive reviews. Owing at least in part to the April 10 turf race being run on the main track, this race got a whopping 16 entrants. A dozen can run, and no one – surprisingly, given a wet forecast Monday night into Tuesday – was entered as main track only.

Battle of Normandy remains first-level allowance-eligible this late in his career because he has not won in seven starts since his debut in August 2022. Five of his seven subsequent starts came in graded stakes, and Battle of Normandy raced competitively in several, especially the rich Dueling Grounds Derby on Sept. 3 at Kentucky Downs, his 3-year-old finale.

That race was contested over 1 5/16 miles, and Battle of Normandy had run solidly the start before going 1 3/16 miles. Trainer Shug McGaughey entered the colt to race one mile at Keeneland, and Battle of Normandy is slated to go just a half-furlong farther Tuesday. McGaughey said going into the Keeneland race he wanted to wake Battle of Normandy up by cutting him back in distance and racing him for the first time in blinkers.

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With any kind of pace, and there are several forward-racing types entered, Battle of Normandy should beat this bunch – if he gets to run, and if he can bring his superior talent.

Carcano, second after a layoff and proven capable on dirt last year during his 3-year-old campaign, could be the right horse if this race winds up on the main track.

Race 8, the highest-class fare on this nine-race program, also is in danger of being washed off grass. This five-furlong tilt drew 10 entrants, eight in the field’s main body, Pistol and Clearly Unhinged entered for the main track only. Clearly Unhinged, making her first start in the Midwest and first for trainer Steve Asmussen, is the race’s most likely winner on dirt.

Ironically, Queen of the Mud seems unlikely to run on anything other than grass: Of the 24 workouts she’s posted, 22 have come on all-weather or turf. But if the race stays on grass, the filly can bring up the curtain on her 4-year-old season the same way she ended her 3-year-old campaign – with a win.

Trained by Graham Motion, Queen of the Mud used her Delaware Park debut last Aug. 31 as a learning experience, going on to an easy front-running maiden win at Aqueduct and a pace-stalking half-length score in a Keeneland first-level allowance. That pair of performances suggest Queen of the Mud has stakes potential, and she has the speed to take a positive position from her rail draw.

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