On April 25, 2021, I posted a blog titled, “Doesn’t Happen Very Often”. The blog featured First Captain and Flightline winning their career debuts on the same day at Belmont Park and Santa Anita respectively. I remember sharing how unusual that accomplishment was. It’s hard enough to win one race let alone two on the same day.
Speed the film forward to Saturday, November 9 and this accomplishment might have been even harder. Integration and Battle of Normandy both won $300,000 Graded Stakes Races within two hours of each other!
Integration’s win came in the $300,000 Grade 2, Red Smith Stakes at Aqueduct going a mile and three eighths. Any question he could win at the distance was answered when he accelerated past the dueling leaders with a sixteenth of a mile to go. Jockey Flavien Prat saved ground every step of the race and when he asked Integration to go, he responded. The winning margin was 2 widening lengths.
Battle of Normandy shipped into Churchill Downs (Louisville, Kentucky) from his base in New York for the $300,000 Grade 3, River City Stakes. Despite winning his last three races at both Saratoga and Aqueduct, Battle of Normandy was dismissed at odds of 4-1. With his regular jockey Flavien Prat riding Integration in New York, we had to find a replacement. Normally that’s not difficult with a deep jockey colony at Churchill Downs but many of them had riding commitments out of town. Trainer Shug McGaughey enlisted the services of jockey Luan Machado who rode him perfectly. Machado had Battle of Normandy forwardly placed and he drew off at the top of the stretch to win by 1 3/4 lengths.
Battle of Normandy Race Replay
Both horses came out of their races in good shape and decisions regarding where they will start next are yet to be made. I may stop saying something doesn’t happen very often!
Horse Racing Nation article on Integration race
Horse Racing Nation article on Battle of Normandy race