In an impressive showing at Churchill Downs, New York-based Battle of Normandy captured the 45th running of the Grade 3, $300,000 River City Stakes, a very interesting race in the horse racing schedule.
Ridden by Luan Machado and trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey, the 4-year-old colt surged ahead in the final turn, maintaining his lead down the stretch to win by 1 3/4 lengths over Reckoning Force.
This performance marked Battle of Normandy’s first stakes win, completing the 1 1/8-mile race over the Matt Winn Turf Course in a final time of 1:48.79. Offtrack betting enthusiasts took note as the colt crossed the line with confidence.
Strategic Racing and Steady Control
Battle of Normandy, owned by West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing, positioned himself just off the pace early in the race, tracking leader Wonderful Justice’s steady fractions of 24.77, 49.88, and 1:14.05.
As they entered the final turn, Battle of Normandy moved up, seizing a 1 1/2-length lead as he reached the top of the stretch. Despite a determined rally from Reckoning Force in the last sixteenth, Battle of Normandy held his position, crossing the finish line with a comfortable lead.
Jockey Luan Machado described Battle of Normandy’s eagerness at the start, saying the colt was “full of himself” and maintained a controlled pace down the backstretch. Machado kept the horse steady, confident that Battle of Normandy had plenty of energy left to push forward when it counted. His approach paid off, as Battle of Normandy responded with a powerful acceleration to seal the win.
A Milestone Win for Battle of Normandy
The River City win was a breakthrough for Battle of Normandy, who had previously competed in five graded stakes without a win. He had shown potential, placing second in the With Anticipation Stakes (G3) at two years old and later finishing third in the Dueling Grounds Derby (G3) as a 3-year-old.
This victory raised his career earnings to $643,195 and improved his record to 13: 5-3-1. Battle of Normandy rewarded those following horse racing odds with a payout of $10.32 on a $2 win ticket as the 4-1 fourth betting choice, while Reckoning Force paid $5.02 for second, and Gigante took third with a payout of $4.96.
Recent Winning Streak and Strong Pedigree
This win at Churchill Downs is part of a four-race winning streak, having secured victories in allowance races at Aqueduct and Saratoga before his River City triumph. His consistent performance highlights his growth and signals potential for further stakes success. Bred in Kentucky by Gage Hill Stables and William S. Farish, Battle of Normandy is a son of City of Light out of the Kitten’s Joy mare Adorable Miss, a lineage known for strong turf performances and Saratoga betting appeal.
This victory also marked trainer Shug McGaughey’s third win in the River City Stakes, having previously won with Smokin’ T in 2023. This horse’s recent form and McGaughey’s skilled training make the colt a promising competitor as he continues to develop in his racing career.
