Three West Point runners go postward late Saturday at Saratoga. It’s likely the busiest week of the meet, with Partners from all over the country heading to the Spa. See race day info here. 

Battle of Normandy, a 3-year-old son of City of Light trained by Shug McGaughey is a live longshot in the $600,000 Saratoga Derby Invitational (G1T). He did well at Saratoga last summer, breaking his maiden at first asking and narrowly missing in the With Anticipation (G3T) at the end of the meet. 

Following a fifth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T), Battle of Normandy was “sent home” for the winter to grow and mature before two second-place finishes in allowance races this year. 

The colt co-owned with Woodford Racing and Ken Langone had an excellent work in company over the weekend under Tyler Gaffalione.

“He needs to take a step forward, but he’s doing great up here,” said Terry Finley. “The Ragozin Sheets show we have a shot. With his grinding style, it seems like the longer the better.”

Dale Romans called an audible and entered Cornhusker Handicap (G3) winner Giant Game into the $1,000,000 Whitney Stakes (G1), Saratoga’s premier race for older males.

The colt owned by Albaugh Family Stables and West Point Thoroughbreds one of only two horses from the last crop of prolific sire Giant’s Causeway. When he was a yearling, we tried to name him “Last Giant” to pay homage to his sire, but the name is already in use. 

After finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile as a 2-year-old, Giant Game was winless in 2022. However, he came out firing in 2023, finishing second twice at Gulfstream before notching a frontrunning score at Churchill Downs. The win under the Twin Spires gave the team the confidence to take a swing at a graded stake.

While he’s facing some very strong foes on Saturday, Giant Game will put the pedal to the metal and look to take them gate to wire under aggressive rider Luis Saez. Giant Game Can Halt Cody’s Wish’s Win Streak with Whitney Stakes Upset

“I’ve always loved the horse,” said Dale Romans. “He’s not very big but is very handy. He’s been very honest this year, and I think the key has been getting back around two turns and putting him on the lead.” Romans trained Roses in May, winner of the 2004 Cornhusker and Whitney.

Just after the Whitney, highly regarded 3-year-old Signator makes his seasonal bow in a seven-furlong allowance race. The grey son of Tapit broke his maiden impressively last fall at Aqueduct for trainer Shug McGaughey.