Larry Jones new trainer for Normandy Invasion

ELMONT, N.Y. - Normandy Invasion, who is graded stakes placed, and Thirteen Arrows, a recent maiden winner, have been transferred by owner Rick Porter from trainer Chad Brown to Larry Jones, Porter said Thursday.

Porter announced the news regarding Normandy Invasion on the Facebook page of his Fox Hill Farm, the nom de course of his racing operation. Later, in a phone interview, he confirmed that he has also moved Thirteen Arrows, a half-sister to Cross Traffic who won a maiden race by six lengths at Belmont Park on June 1.

On his Facebook post, Porter wrote, “I consider Chad Brown a fine trainer and a personal friend, but we just haven't had the right luck together with Normandy and I need to try something new.”

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Normandy Invasion, a three-time runner-up in graded stakes, finished 10th in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap on June 7. Brown said the horse came out of the race with a severe lung infection. Porter said on Thursday that Normandy Invasion was undergoing a second ultrasound of his right lung at the New Bolton Medical Center in Pennsylvania. Porter said that doctors at New Bolton would review the results of the ultrasound with Dr. Nathan Slovis, the director of the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Kentucky.

Porter said the results of the initial ultrasound indicated that the lung infection was not as severe as first thought and that the horse could possibly resume training this weekend. Porter said if that’s the case and Jones can get the horse fit enough, Normandy Invasion could possibly make the Grade 2, $200,000 Monmouth Cup at Monmouth Park on July 27.

Meanwhile, Porter said he shipped Thirteen Arrows to Jones as well and is considering running her in the Grade 3, $150,000 Victory Ride Stakes at Belmont Park on June 29. Thirteen Arrows, in her third career start, won a six-furlong maiden race by six lengths at Belmont on June 1.

Jones, who recently recovered from severe injuries suffered in an April fall, is based at Delaware Park, which is close to where Porter lives.

“With Larry I’d be able to go down there a few days a week and see the horses,” Porter said.