Verrazano, Normandy Invasion record bullet moves ahead of
Wood Memorial
Undefeated Verrazano worked five furlongs in 1:01.17 Sunday
morning over the fast dirt at Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida, completing his major
preparations for an expected start in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Wood
Memorial at Aqueduct.
With Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez aboard for the
work, Verrazano was sent in company with Discreet Dancer, who was credited with
the same time, fastest of 15 at the distance. Discreet Dancer, who exits a 5
1/4-length victory in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Handicap on March 9, is bound
for the Grade 1 Carter Handicap on the Wood undercard.
“I thought it was another excellent work, pretty much what we have come to
expect of (Verrazano) in the morning,” trainer Todd Pletcher
said by phone. “It was very good, and a strong gallop out; very pleased.
Discreet Dancer also worked well and is on schedule for the Carter.”
Verrazano broke his maiden on New Year’s Day at
Gulfstream Park, scoring by 7 3/4 lengths over 10 rivals, then earned a BRIS Speed
figure of 104 winning a one-mile optional claiming race by 16 1/4 lengths a month
later. His stakes debut came in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby on March 9, which
the More Than Ready colt won by three lengths after bobbling at the break.
“We felt like he got a little bit of experience in Tampa in
that he got behind a horse and got a little bit of dirt,” Pletcher said. “Some
experience certainly can help you in what I’m sure will be a full gate at
Churchill. (Additional experience in the Wood), and the mile-and-an-eighth
distance should also be helpful, hopefully, in preparing him for the Derby if
we’re fortunate enough to go that route.”
Pletcher said that Verrazano and Discreet Dancer are
scheduled to arrive in New York on Wednesday.
D-Day is also near for Normandy Invasion, who turned in his
final workout for the Wood at Palm Meadows. With exercise rider Javier Herrera aboard,
the bay son of Tapit covered four furlongs in :47.95, the quickest of 35 moves at the
distance.
Trainer Chad Brown, speaking via telephone, expressed
satisfaction with the workout.
“He went very well. He did an easy half within himself,”
Brown said. “Although the time was very quick he did it very easy. I’m happy
with the way he was moving and the way he came back.”
Normandy Invasion has made one start in 2013, finishing
fifth, beaten 1 1/2 lengths, as the 3-2 favorite in the Grade 2 Risen Star on
February 23 at Fair Grounds.
“He came out of the race (at Fair Grounds) in good
shape,” Brown said. “He probably needed that race for the last bit of fitness
after the freshening. He’s very fit right now, so I expect him to move forward
off the race.
In two starts at Aqueduct last November the Kentucky-bred broke his maiden by 9
1/4 lengths in his second start and missed by a
nose when runner-up in the Grade 2 Remsen.
“That’s why we chose the Wood,” Brown said of Normandy
Invasion’s record at Aqueduct. “We’re confident he likes the track. It takes
away one element of guess work.”
Like Verrazano, Normandy Invasion will fly to New York on
Wednesday.
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