Ride on Normandy Invasion

[DaTruth]

In hindsight, it was foolish for Javier to make that move during the second quarter, but perhaps Javier was just following orders, albeit orders that were given with the thought that the pace wouldn't be as fast as it was. If Chad Brown's strategy was to have Normandy Invasion actually be in the lead in the stretch (something which NI hadn't done in a long time) and make the others catch him, then the strategy worked as planned.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by DaTruth

In hindsight, it was foolish for Javier to make that move during the second quarter

According to the equibase chart (which obviously isnt as accurate as trakus data) he actually lost ground during that quarter.

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

According to the equibase chart (which obviously isnt as accurate as trakus data) he actually lost ground during that quarter.

Maybe, but he passed five horses while doing so. That is pretty rare at the distance, that early in the race.

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

Maybe, but he passed five horses while doing so. That is pretty rare at the distance, that early in the race.

Flower Alley did something similar.

In fact I think that should go down as one of the all time worst Derby rides, think it was Chavez.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

Flower Alley did something similar.

In fact I think that should go down as one of the all time worst Derby rides, think it was Chavez.

It was Chavez, and it was the reason some of us weren't at all surprised he went on to have the success he did later that year.

[tiggerv]

I needed Normandy Invasion so count me among the people unhappy about the ride. I broke out my old Fat Chart program to show the graphic of the race. It doesn't look great this small but maybe it is helpful. X-axis is race distance, Y-axis is lengths back, colors are saddle cloth

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

Maybe, but he passed five horses while doing so. That is pretty rare at the distance, that early in the race.

To be fair there are 19 horses in the race so passing 5 is like passing 2.5 in a field of 10 and you see that plenty.

Frankly all but a few of the horses moved to early. I guess the NI supporters are of the opinion that if the jockey had the were with all to rate 4 or 5 lengths further back and then make a move 2 or 300 yard later that NI would have beaten the two that finished ahead of him. I guess that is fair but I really dont get the point other then NI could have been second with a better timed move.

Does anyone believe NI is a better horse then Orb or just that he still should be looked at as a viable option the next time he races? Shoot Goldenscent is a viable option so is Palice Malice and Revolution for that matter.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

Maybe, but he passed five horses while doing so. That is pretty rare at the distance, that early in the race.

Isn't the 2nd quarter at 1 1/4 run partially around the 1st turn? Him being on the inside may have more to do with that.

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Isn't the 2nd quarter at 1 1/4 run partially around the 1st turn? Him being on the inside may have more to do with that.

Possible it had something to do with it, but usually horses that establish position inside are good, not moving up, while those outside try to push forward to get inside more. Anything is possible, but moving that much into a pace that fast is a death sentence almost every single time I've seen it done. I don't think people realize just how taxing that pace was.