2012 Breeders' Cup Mile: Surprise Entrant

Trainer Graham Motion and racing syndicate Team Valor International will attempt to win the Breeders' Cup Mile with Animal Kingdom, while returning from a 9-month layoff. Animal Kingdom won the roses in the 2011 Kentucky Derby, but was sidelined during the second half of last year after running 6th in the Belmont Stakes.

In preparation for last March's Dubai World Cup, Animal Kingdom won his comeback race (1 mile turf allowance at Gulfstream Park), but was sidelined again with a fracture in his pelvis. Great Britian native Motion is attempting a feat only surpassed by fellow countryman, trainer Michael Dickinson. In 1998, Dickinson brought Da Hoss back off a 2-year layoff after only 1 prep race to capture his second Breeders' Cup Mile.

Jockey John Velazquez was aboard Animal Kingdom throughout the Triple Crown, but is also the regular pilot of Breeders' Cup Mile contender, Wise Dan. According to Motion's Twitter account, no decision about a rider has been made at this time. 

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