Normandy Invasion storms into New Orleans after a track setting, dominating performance win in his comeback race down at the conveyor belt track Gulfstream Park. He took his competition apart with ease and Castellano sat aboard the Chad Brown charge like a jock who knew he had this battle won from the moment he charged out of the gate. Who did he really beat in that come back race? Not much, but when you set a track record in your come back effort its worth putting down your past performance sheets and take a look. Normandy Invasion was always a horse that showed tons of promise. Last year triple crown trail he had many thinking he could give Brown and Castellano their very first Kentucky Derby win. He turned for home with the lead and then was blasted to pieces by Orb who destroyed all comers in the mud at Churchill. I expect big things from Normandy this year, but his last race while impressive is suspect because of the track. The track down at the Fairgrounds could be a little soupy and sticky today and he won't be running against first level allowance horses who filled a race trying to cash a check.
Palace Malice also takes his beauty down to Fairgrounds with Mike Smith climbing back aboard. Palace Malice also came back to win down at Gulfstream after taking a break. He was moving comfortably in his come back race, until a second tier handicap horse Uncaptured moved alongside him with a premature move by his jock. Uncaptured wilted like lettuce, and Palace malice rallied to win his come back with a hard charging Golden Ticket, a nice miler, making the end result interesting. People were so impress with this win by Palace Malice. all the talk was about how he was headed then fought back inside with a relentless ride by champion jockey Johnny Velasquez. The fact is, Palace Malice was suppose to win that race. he was suppose to dispose of his competitors like Normandy Invasion did. He was suppose to be on the lead and Johnny Velasquez was suppose to be given an arm chair ride while looking over his shoulders and between his legs a few times to make sure no one was coming. That wasn't the script. He was in a race of his life from two horses that will not win any handicap races at major tracks this year. But win he did and I will never take anything from a horse that wins. Winning is what matters and he delivered the ten cents back on the dollar for all whom wager that day. I am staying away form Both Normandy Invasion and Palace Malice in the New Orleans handicap. Both horses will bring excitement for their backers this year in the handicap division but the value isn't there today down at Fairgrounds.
For value I am taking a look at three other horses. Bradster trained by the underrated Eddie Kenneally, Sunbean who is trying to become what Star Guitar once was, and Prayer for Relief whom left the Steve Asmussen barn after the Peta scandal by his owner Zayat. Prayer For Relief now eats up after races in the Dale Romans barn. I know these horses haven't showed the talent of Will Take Charge or Mucho Macho Man but they are good enough to cash a ticket considering that the two main threats are making their second start off a comeback. This race maybe a two horse race turning for home. Palace malice maybe playing catch me if you can under Mike left handed whipping Smith and Normandy Invasion may just run him down in the stretch under the guidance of Rosie, but that is a shot worth taking against. If they both go at it and run one, two, then it would've been a nice entertaining race that wet the appetite of those who can't wait to see all the big stars in the handicap division line up. But if they are not up to stuff in their second race after a layoff, then put your two dollars elsewhere. I will be rooting for a nice race but my two dollars will be seeking a value.
The pick: Prayer for Relief over Sunbean
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