Animal Kingdom to kick start his 2013 campaign in Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap
After a brilliant run in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile over Santa Anita Park’s turf course on 3 November, Animal Kingdom is ready to own up the surface with one eye on his 2013 debut start in the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap on 9 February, 2013.
The news was confirmed when the 2011 Grade 1 Kentucky Derby winner worked an easy half-mile at Palm Meadows Training Center. Team Valor International’s Animal Kingdom was also worked prior to his start in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Palm Meadows Training Center,
and back then he breezed in 52.61 seconds to get freshened up for his first ever Breeders’ Cup start.
Trained by Graham Motion, Animal Kingdom finished 1 ½ lengths adrift to Wise Dan in the Mile.
"I was a lot more relaxed about it than the last time I worked him, which was right before the Breeders' Cup. It was a lot more pleasurable to watch," Motion said. "I'm glad to get him back on track and start back up with the process. He'd been on such a
tight schedule for the Breeders' Cup, I wanted to give him a little bit of time to get over it."
"How can you not (be disappointed), when a horse has a troubled trip on that stage on that day with what we were trying to achieve?" said Motion.
Despite that, Motion must awfully proud of the 4-year-old colt by Leroidesanimaux, who was coming off an 8 month layoff due to an injury to his left hind leg. The injury was discovered after Animal Kingdom comfortable won an allowance optional claimer at
Gulfstream Park.
It was his second start on turf, and his first victory over the surface on 18 February, 2012. That race also came after an 8 month layoff, due to an injury he incurred in 2011, when he came out of the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes.
In the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap, Animal Kingdom is likely to meet Shug McGaughey trained Point of Entry. The multiple grade 1 winning horse also had a difficult trip at Santa Anita Park running in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf, but in the end turned
in a good performance to finish second.
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