Turf horses getting dirty before Kentucky Derby
April 30, 2011LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Kentucky Derby hopeful Animal Kingdom has raced on dirt just once in his career, but trainer Graham Motion believes his 3-year-old colt feels right at home at Churchill Downs.
The winner of the Spiral Stakes on the synthetic surface at Turfway Park a month ago was among a handful of Derby horses who worked under the twin spires on Saturday, a week before the Run for the Roses.
Animal Kingdom covered six furlongs in 1:13 under jockey Robby Albarado. Motion says he was so pleased with the effort that Animal Kingdom should be good to go in the 1 1/4-mile Derby.
No horse who has worked primarily on synthetic surfaces has won the Derby since the surface was introduced a few years ago, but trainer Bob Baffert says making the transition to dirt no longer an issue.