Animal Kingdom is King of the Derby
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Photo:
Eclipse Sportswire
Zipse’s
Kentucky Derby Daily – The Day After
It’s not always the case to say the best horse won the
Kentucky Derby, but after watching Animal Kingdom roll down the lane yesterday
to win the 137th edition of the Run for the Roses by an ever
widening 2 ¾ lengths, I would have a hard time saying that anyone but the
winner was the best horse in that field.
Early in the stretch it became clear that Team Valor
International's Animal Kingdom was going to be the force that everyone would
need to deal with. The beautiful chestnut burst through a small opening on the
far turn and circled wide before coming down the middle of the track powerfully
to easily defeat 2nd place finisher Nehro. Mucho Macho Man finished
strongly to just miss 2nd, while pacesetter Shackleford held well to
finish 4th.
John Velazquez, the replacement for Robby Albarado,
who suffered a broken nose earlier in the week, was able to settle the winner
comfortably in mid-pack as Shackleford set a moderate pace of :23 3/5, :48 1/5
and 1:12 4/5. When he asked Animal Kingdom for run on the turn he received the
answer he was hoping for. Sent of as 20-1 shot outsider in the field of 19,
Animal Kingdom completed the most exciting two minutes in sports in a time of
2:02.04.
A son of the Brazilian bred Leroidesanimaux, Animal Kingdom won for the 3rd time, with two 2nd place finishes in only five lifetime starts.
For winning trainer Graham Motion, the victory came after
a tough week. The Englishman expected to have two horses in the Kentucky Derby,
but less than seven days from the big race, Toby’s Corner became lame. The Wood
Memorial winner’s injury is not considered serious, but it was a major blow to
the trainer trying to win his first Classic race. So Animal Kingdom became Motion’s
lone Derby entrant, and he did not disappoint.
Moving on to Baltimore for racing’s middle jewel, it
appears the Preakness should attract a large group attempting to derail Animal
Kingdom from heading to New York a potential Triple Crown champion. Besides the
winner, Nehro, Mucho Macho Man, Shackleford, Santiva, and Dialed In are all considered
either likely or possible for the Preakness. While the Derby contigent may
number six, the new shooters could be an even larger number, including Sway
Away (the last horse left out of the Derby), Astrology, Mr. Commons, Dance City,
Flashpoint, Concealed Identity, King Congie, Norman Asbjornson, and Prime Cut.
Clearly Animal Kingdom will have his work cut out for
him if he is to become a Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, but after
watching him sail home impressively in front of the largest Derby crowd ever,
I would have to say he is the horse to beat on May 21.
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