Animal Kingdom, four furlong bullet
in 47.76 over main track with jockey John Velazquez aboard, fastest of 32 works
at distance (fractions were 24.18, 47.76, 1:00.06, 1:14.38)
Barry Irwin, Founder and CEO, Team
Valor International: “I liked it. It looked like he
handled it really nicely. He looked like a grass horse. He was like an inch off
the ground. It looked like he was moving great. It looked like he went in 50. I
think he’s got a lot of energy, still. I think that’s the key with
him. He didn’t look like a tired horse or anything.”
Trainer Graham Motion: “[Velazquez]
didn’t ask him at all. He did it all on his own. That’s why I only
wanted to go a half with him because I figured he’d gallop out pretty
strong. He just hasn’t changed. He’s remarkable. He’s taking
everything in his stride and he hasn’t gotten worked up about it. You saw
how he was today. He couldn’t have been more laid back. That’s
what’s impressed me.”
Jockey John Velazquez:
“He was half-way running off with me. I took him as slowly as I could. He
got very competitive with the other horse. After he passed him after the wire,
he kept galloping very strong. He knew he had the jockey on top of him because
he just played with me. He had me at “hello.” I’m trying to
gallop him behind the other horse, and he played with me. He had me. I wanted
to put him behind the other horse, and I was almost clipping heels galloping to
the pole and I had to bring him to the outside of him, and he got very strong
galloping. I let the other horse start out a little bit in front of me, and he
sat off for about a sixteenth, eighth of a mile, and he got into the bridle
again.”
Nehro, four furlongs in 50.88 over main
track with exercise rider Cesar Garcia aboard, 29th fastest of 32
works at distance (fractions were 26.24, 50.88, 1:04.17)
Assistant Trainer Toby Sheets for
Steve Asmussen: “I though he worked great, it was just
exactly what the boss wanted. We were very pleased with him. He came back good,
so onward and upward.”