Normandy Invasion ready to go in 2014

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Hallandale Beach, FL (Sports Network) - Former Kentucky Derby contender Normandy Invasion is healthy and ready for a 2014 campaign.

"He just started back galloping a couple of weeks ago, and he's about ready to breeze," trainer Chad Brown said. "We're just taking it day by day. We'll let him tell us when he's ready."

The 3-year-old colt, owned by Fox Hill Farm, set most of the pace in the 139th Run for the Roses on May 4 and was able to hang on for a fourth-place finish behind Orb.

He suffered an abscess in his front hoof which kept from competing the remainder of the year.

"Normandy actually spent the summer and fall over at WinStar Farm, and they got him started for us and sent him to Palm Meadows in terrific shape," Brown said. "He's a horse that has shown a lot of talent. He's had his fair share of bad luck and a couple bumps in the road, but at the end of the day he's a really nice horse with a lot of talent and we're happy to have him back. I think that he's moving really well right now under tack, and we're anxious to get him back breezing."

Brown and owner Rick Porter are pointing for a start in early January.