Animal Kingdom is getting ready for the Preakness Stakes, expected to get to Pimlico on May 20th
It appears that Animal Kingdom’s charm of success has just begun. The 3-year-old has started serious preparations for the Preakness Stakes. The Kentucky Derby winner made a short van trip from Churchill Downs to Graham Motion’s Fair Hill Training Center
on Tuesday, May 10th. He jogged on Wednesday morning, 8:30 am.
This was his first proper exercise after winning the first leg of the Triple Crown races. His trainer, Graham Motion, commented on his work out, “He went out and jogged one mile with the pony with my assistant Dave Rock, He’s super. Really good”.
Earlier, he had been walking, two days prior to his transfer to Fair Hill, on Sunday and Monday. Motion also told that the colt’s performance was witnessed by many media representatives.
The all-weather surface of Fair Hill Training Center will help the colt to win while racing for the first time on dirt. He won the Kentucky Derby with a margin of 2 ¾ lengths but he is expected to have fierce rivals in the 1-3/16 mile Preakness Stakes.
The race is to be held on Saturday, May 21st. The Preakness Stakes may be limited to 14 candidates, twice the capacity the field has drawn in the past 25 years.
This time around it has a total list of 20 horses that are in consideration for the race. These include seven participants of the Kentucky Derby and thirteen new shooters. The post position draw will be held on May 18, 2011.
Preakness Stakes had twelve starters last year.
Animal Kingdom was transferred into the care of Graham Motion in winters. His trainer is still overwhelmed with the colt’s performance and says that his phone hasn’t stopped ringing ever since the colt won the Kentucky Derby.
He commented, “I’m recovering, very slowly; I’m trying to enjoy the Derby before looking at the Preakness. It’s all been pretty overwhelming”.
He is scheduled to have the same work out time on Thursday, May 12th. The 3-year-old son of Leroidesanimaux will breeze again on Friday, May 13th, at 9:00 am.
If everything goes according to plan, Animal Kingdom will be making his way to Pimlico on May 20th.
As for other horses and their jockeys, trainer, Bob Baffert, has replaced jockey, Victor Espinoza, with Martin Garcia for his colt, Midnight Interlude.
Other jockeys such as Ramon Dominguez, Garrett Gomez, Robby Albarado, and Mike Smith also have their mounts confirmed.
Ramon Dominguez will be aboard Todd Pletcher’s Dance City.
Garrett Gomez will hold the reins of Sway Away.
Albarado will be riding King Congie.
Astrology will be ridden by Mike Smith.
Tags: