Team Valor International’s Animal Kingdom, winner of
the 2011 Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (G1), returned to
Keeneland Monday night from his home base at Fair Hill, Md., to continue
his preparation for his return to the races.
Animal Kingdom, who broke his maiden here in his second start exactly
two years ago, trained here for nearly a month prior to his win in the
Kentucky Derby. He will not be here nearly as long this time as he is
scheduled to ship to California on Saturday for an expected start in the
$2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) at Santa Anita on November 3.
Trained by Graham Motion, Animal Kingdom has not raced since a
February 18 allowance victory on grass at Gulfstream Park. The
Leroidesanimaux (BRZ) colt is scheduled to have his final pre-Breeders’
Cup work here this week.
With regular exercise rider David Nava aboard, Animal Kingdom came
to the main track Tuesday morning at 8:30. Accompanied by a pony, Animal
Kingdom jogged up the stretch to the middle of the far turn and then
galloped a little more than 1¼ miles on his own.