Animal Kingdom Completes BC Mile Preparations
Team Valor International’s Animal Kingdom completed his major training for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) by working five furlongs in 1:02.60 around the dogs on a firm turf course Friday morning at Keeneland.
With exercise rider David Nava up and working in company with 4-year-old stablemate Badleroibrown, Animal Kingdom began the work about three lengths in back of his workmate, closed to within a length at the three-eighths pole, drew even at the quarter pole and finished about a length in front. Fractions were :12, :25.20, :38.60, :50.80 and out six furlongs in 1:16.20.
Trainer Graham Motion was pleased with the work by the 2011 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner, who will leave for Southern California on Saturday.
“I thought it was a sensible work and he galloped out strong,” Motion said. “I did not want a hard work today as he had his serious work last week (six furlongs in 1:13 on October 18 at Fair Hill, Md.).”
Rafael Bejarano will ride Animal Kingdom for the first time in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, scheduled for November 3.
“He will gallop up to the race and we may school him one day,” Motion said, noting that Bejarano would not be aboard any morning prior to the race.
Motion also will send Augustin Stables’ Kitten’s Point to Santa Anita for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) on November 2. Second in the JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (G3) on October 11 in her most recent start, Kitten’s Point schooled at the gate this morning as part of her morning activity.
Bejarano will have the mount on Kitten’s Point, by Kitten’s Joy.