Belmont Park: Normandy Invasion now in Saratoga

ELMONT, N.Y. - Saturday’s Belmont Stakes features 10 of the 19 horses who ran in the Kentucky Derby five weeks ago. The most prominent horse from the Derby not in the Belmont field is Normandy Invasion, who made the lead in upper stretch before finishing fourth.

[BELMONT STAKES: Live updates and video from Belmont Park]

After briefly flirting with the Preakness, Normandy Invasion was declared from that race six days out and was aimed at a summer campaign in Saratoga. His connections never gave serious thought to running in the Belmont Stakes.

“Mr. Porter and I never entered serious discussions about the Belmont,” said Chad Brown, who trains Normandy Invasion for Rick Porter’s Fox Hill Farm. “We feel real comfortable with our decision to point for the Jim Dandy and Travers.”

Brown recently transferred Normandy Invasion from Belmont Park to Saratoga, where he spent the majority of his 2-year-old season.

“So far, I like what I’m seeing,” Brown said. “I think he’s responded from his slight freshening. Time will tell how he trains between now and then.”

Brown said it is possible Normandy Invasion could return to the work tab next week.