Normandy Invasion starts anew
Normandy Invasion has always had a lot of ability. He has also had more than his share of bad luck. On Wednesday, he is scheduled to make his first start in more than a year in a second-level optional-claiming race at Delaware Park.
Now 5, Normandy Invasion has turned in a series of sharp works for trainer Larry Jones, who is based at Delaware. Still, this is his second long layoff and it’s difficult not to wonder if he is the same horse he was earlier in his career.
Normandy Invasion finished 10th in the 2014 Met Mile in his last start. He came out of that race with a lung infection, and owner Rick Porter transferred him from trainer Chad Brown to Jones. Normandy Invasion was being pointed to a fall campaign when he fractured sesamoids while training in September and underwent surgery at the Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital to remove two chips. Larry Bramlage performed the surgery, which included treatment with stem cells.
“Dr. Bramlage at first gave us a 50-50 chance that the stem cells would work,” Porter said. “But when he saw the last set of X-rays he said we could go on with it.”
Normandy Invasion has made only three starts since finishing fourth to Orb in the 2013 Kentucky Derby. He was off almost 10 months following that race before winning a first-level optional claimer at Gulfstream Park. Foot issues contributed to that layoff.
In his second start of 2014, he was second to Palace Malice in the Grade 2 New Orleans Handicap. That effort was good enough that he was sent off at 7-2 in the Met Mile.
Normandy Invasion is eligible for Wednesday’s race because he is 2 for 9 in his career, which is hard to believe after all his good tries in graded stakes. In addition to his efforts in the Kentucky Derby and New Orleans Handicap, the son of Tapit has been second in the 2013 Wood Memorial, beaten three-quarters of a length by Verrazano, and second in the 2012 Remsen, beaten a nose by Overanalyze.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 3 Normandy Invasion. Trainer Larry Jones is 10-6-0-1 with a $4.66 ROI over the past three years in the first start following a trainer switch and a layoff of 45 days or more (3 for 3 with a layoff of 180 days or more). Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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After all the setbacks, it would be good to see him live up to the potential he has shown over the years.
“We’re just hoping he runs as well as he’s been training and he’s on his way back to being the old Normandy,” Porter said. “We’re very excited that he’s going to get a second chance.”
Based on past form, Normandy Invasion lays over this field, but if he fails to fire, Our Caravan might be the beneficiary.
Our Caravan will be making his first start since December, but his trainer, Michael Dilger, won at Belmont Park on Sunday with Mexikoma, who had been off 13 months. Our Caravan was second in a Parx optional claimer in his last start. He has been gelded during his down time.
Chelios, who will be stretching out from six furlongs for trainer Tom Proctor, also figures.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 2 Chelios. Trainer Tom Proctor is 46-2-6-7 with a $0.60 ROI over the past five years going sprint to route on dirt. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 1 Our Caravan. Trainer Michael Dilger is 7-4-1-1 with a $5.88 ROI over the past two years in routes following a layoff of 180 days or more. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan