Meadowlands: Norman mares getting last licks in before becoming broodmares

Things haven’t quite worked out as planned this year for the $1 million winner Darlinonthebeach. The 5-year-old mare with an unmatched pedigree fell victim to a nagging suspensory injury earlier this year that thwarted her progress.

“I was trying to get her back for the Breeders Crown,” said Richard “Nifty” Norman, her trainer. “But those injuries linger and it just didn’t happen.”

Then when Darlinonthebeach did get back she was too late to earn points to qualify for the TVG Final, leaving Norman with few other options.

“When she didn’t make the TVG we decided to race her in Canada,” said Norman.

With the knowledge that a race wouldn’t fill this week, Norman brought Darlinonthebeach back to The Meadowlands where she’ll race in Friday’s $20,000 Preferred Handicap.

“She’s been very good,” said Norman, who confided that only a few more starts remain in her racing career with Darlinonthebeach becoming a broodmare in 2019. Norman was concerned that Darlinonthebeach might get shut out of a race at The Meadowlands as well this week if enough horses didn’t enter.

“That’s why I put Delightfulmemphisn in,” Norman said.

The entry appears formidable though the past performances for Delightfulmemephisn appear sketchy. “She’s had some tough trips at Yonkers. A couple of times she was sitting behind horses that stopped on her,” Norman said of the 5-year-old Bettor’s Delight-sired mare that has had a solid season since arriving in North America.

“She’s all right on any sized track,” said Norman, “But I’d prefer to keep her on a big track and hopefully there will be more money to race for.”

The Friday feature finds Delightfulmemphisn starting from post six with Darlinonthebeach on the far outside from post nine. Joining Norman in sending out a pair for the event is trainer Jeff Cullipher, who has sent a significant amount of class horses from Indiana to the Meadowlands. Kak’s Shark Attack (post 4) put in a solid effort from post nine two weeks back and will be stepping up in class following the 1:51 4/5 victory. Stylish Beachwhere, a 5-year-old by Somebeachsomewhere, gets her first good draw since arriving (post 1) on the East Coast but will also be stepping up a rung.

The 4-year-old Brazuca appears to have turned the corner in the right direction for trainer Tom Cancelliere. With consecutive impressive local victories, Brazuca has shown the speed and grit she had displayed during her first two years on the racetrack. Brazuca landed post five.

Jewel Lehigh A has been razor sharp for trainer Andrew Harris and returns to the Metro area following a pair of solid miles at Dover Downs. The 7-year-old import is a model of consistency as her eerily identical past performance stats would indicate. Coming into Friday’s final start of 2018, Jewel Lehigh A has started 33 times and won on six occasions, identical to her 2017 statistical line.

Norman has another filly to race on Friday with a future in the breeding shed as Pandora’s Box closes out her racing career shortly. “With Ross (former trainer, Croghan) heading to Florida they wanted to keep racing her until she’s bred,” said Norman. Pandora’s Box started for the first time for Norman last week finishing eighth. “I can tell you one thing, she doesn’t like racing on the front end,” Norman said.

Pandora’s Box drew the rail but Norman thinks the daughter of Cantab Hall may have gotten up a little too high in class. “I think she can get a piece in there,” Norman said.

Norman closes out the night and the season with the Irish import Robyn Camden (post 2) in the nightcap race 14 on the card. “I know she came in with 11 straight wins in Ireland but that doesn’t mean much here,” said Norman. “I thought she raced well in her first start.”

Indeed the daughter of Art Professor had arrived unbeaten but her new trainer was hardly impressed prepping her for local action. “She really didn’t train down that well but they told me she’d be better in the races,” Norman said. “I think she got away a little too far back and that first-over trip didn’t work out.”

Norman expects Robyn Camden to give a better account if she’s closer to the action on Friday night.

Post time for The Meadowlands 14-race Friday program is set at 7:15 p.m.