Normandy Invasion Pensioned to Pursue Second Career

Normandy Invasion has been pensioned from stud duty and gelded in order to pursue a second career as a sport horse. The announcement came Dec. 8 via the Twitter account of the National Thoroughbred Welfare Organization—an aftercare group founded by his former owner, Rick Porter—that will help find the 10-year-old son of Tapit  a new home.  

"Thank you to Spendthrift Farm for entrusting us to rehome their former stallion Normandy Invasion," read the NTWO Tweet. "He has been gelded and will make a lovely, athletic sport horse for a lucky adopter."

Offered to the 2012 Keeneland April 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale by Eddie Woods, Normandy Invasion was purchased by Porter's Fox Hill Farm for $230,000. Trained for most of his career by Chad Brown, he was a winner at 2 when breaking his maiden going one mile at Aqueduct Racetrack. He missed by a nose in his stakes debut one start later—the nine-furlong Remsen Stakes (G2)—but in doing so stamped himself as one to watch on the 2013 Road to the Kentucky Derby. 

Normandy Invasion finished fifth in his 3-year-old debut, the Risen Star Stakes (G2), but bounced back one start later to finish second in the Wood Memorial Stakes (G1) behind Verrazano. The race was his final steppingstone before the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1), where he ran fourth behind winner Orb . 

Though a foot abscess caused Normandy Invasion to be sidelined through the rest of his sophomore campaign, he returned at 4 to win a one-mile allowance optional claiming race at Gulfstream Park, where he set a track record of 1:33.13. He finished second in the New Orleans Handicap (G2) before capping the year with an off-the-board finish in the Metropolitan Handicap (G1). 

Normandy Invasion made three starts at 5 but never quite regained top form. He was retired that year with a 2-5-0 record from 12 starts and earnings of $551,900. 

In 2016, Normandy Invasion entered stud at Keane Stud in New York under the ownership of Spendthrift Farm. He stood his first three seasons there before being moved to Spendthrift in Kentucky for 2019. In 2020, he was moved to Pin Oak Lane Farm in Pennsylvania, where he stood for a $2,500 fee. He is the sire of 13 winners from 43 starters, and his first foals are 3-year-olds of 2020. 

NTWO executive director Victoria Keith, who also serves as the executive vice president of Fox Hill Farm, said she was excited about the buzz from fans and potential adopters surrounding Normandy Invasion's second career. 

"Spendthrift Farm called us to say that they were pulling him from stallion duty, and, of course, we are associated with Fox Hill Farm, who had owned him when he was racing," Keith said. "We're very excited and we've gotten a lot of interest in him, and it's prompted a lot of people to reminisce about him during his racing days. 

"We're happy to see that people are giving a lot of kudos to Spendthrift for sending him on to a new career. It seems like a win/win for everyone involved but mostly for the person that ends up with him. He's a beautiful horse with a lot of athletic talent, and hopefully that translates into his new career. We're happy to have him, and we're looking forward to placing him in a new home." 

Bred in Kentucky by Betz/Kidder/Gainesway/Graves/D.J. Stable/Cole, Normandy Invasion is out of the Boston Harbor mare Boston Lady. He is a half brother to Princess Ash (by Indian Charlie), the dam of 2019 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) winner Quip.