Animal Kingdom bags the Gulfstream Park allowance race with ease
Off for nearly nine months or not, Graham Motion trained Animal Kingdom made a successful return to the races in a $60,000 allowance/optional claimer at Gulfstream Park’s turf course for Thoroughbred four-year-old and upward.
Leroidesanimaux’s 4-year-old colt, Animal Kingdom was earlier pointed toward the Tampa Bay Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, but his connections felt a milder start to his 4-year-old career would be an ideal prep race ahead of a much tougher race called the Group 1, $10 million Dubai World Cup over 1 ¼ miles on poly track at the Meydan on 31 March, 2012.
Team Valor International’s Animal Kingdom went up against 5 other colts and geldings in the 1 1/16 mile test on turf. Under jockey John Velazquez, Animal Kingdom was content to race behind a few, as he trailed early on.
Entering the backstretch, Animal Kingdom out of mare Dalicia by Acatenango made a move to go four wide, and readied for the assault when it was required.
Swinging by the far turn, Animal Kingdom then went 3 wide, and from then on it was a matter of taking command, as the 4-year-old responded well when asked to do more by the furlong marker, took charge and kicked away to win the race under an energetic hand ride.
Monument Hill was the only runner, who came close to Animal Kingdom on the top of the stretch, and win he came a length adrift of Animal Kingdom, John Velazquez mildly shook him to realize the race is still on as Animal Kingdom pressed harder to widen the gap.
“Obviously, I would have been disappointed if he hadn’t won today, when you have a race that’s set up for you," Motion said. "But this was the best thing for us. He still had to go out there and win it. He needed a race and still has six weeks to regroup to get him to Dubai in the right way.
"This horse has come a long way since October. Nothing was more heartbreaking than to see this horse stuck in a stall a week after the Belmont.”
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