Velazquez lands another Kentucky Derby ride

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Another Kentucky Derby, another last-minute change for jockey John Velazquez.

The scratch of Uncle Mo on Friday morning marked the third straight year Velazquez lost a major Derby contender less than a week before the race.

Velazquez had the mounts on Quality Road in 2009 and Eskendereya last year before they were withdrawn with injuries. He scrambled to find last-minute replacements, finishing 15th on 28-1 shot Mr. Hot Stuff in 2009 and 10th last year on the filly Devil May Care.

Once again, Velazquez didn't stay unemployed for long. Trainer H. Graham Motion quickly grabbed him to ride Animal Kingdom, winner of the Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park.

Velazquez replaces Robby Albarado, who suffered a broken nose earlier this week at Churchill Downs when a horse bucked him off during a post parade, and then delivered a kick to the face.

``We made the decision this morning, before the betting opened, so the punters would have full knowledge of what the deal was,'' said Barry Irwin, whose Team Valor International owns Animal Kingdom.

Velazquez is 0 for 12 in the Derby. His best finish was a second aboard Invisible Ink in 2001.

Motion lost his top Derby contender earlier this week when Wood Memorial winner Toby's Corner was scratched Monday with a left hind leg injury.

``It's been a real emotional roller coaster for everybody,'' Motion said. ``That is the nature of the game, and what you grow used to.''

Animal Kingdom will be running on a dirt track for the first time, breaking from post No. 16. The colt has two wins and two seconds in four starts.

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ZITO'S GOLD STRIKE: It was 20 years ago that Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito won his first Kentucky Derby with Strike the Gold.

Zito, who sends out morning-line Dialed In on Saturday, also won in 1994 with Go for Gin. He hasn't won since, sending out 21 horses in the interim.

``It's been a long time since we've won this race,'' Zito said. ``You've got to be thankful for all the ones you've won.''

Zito has fond memories of his first Derby winner, and sees similarities to Dialed In.

``They're both not very big but they're balanced,'' Zito said. ``They both have great personalities and they have the same running style, coming from last.''

Dialed In, the Florida Derby winner, will start from post No. 8.

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BLANKET COVERAGE: NBC is promoting this year's Triple Crown coverage with the tagline ``every race, every story.''

Including ones the network didn't have the opportunity to tell before.

NBC will have expansive coverage of the Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes over a variety of networks under the NBC Universal umbrella.

NBC and Versus will have 14 1/2 hours of Derby-related programming leading up to Saturday's Run for the Roses. Yet that hardly scratches the surface. Ratings for the Derby have risen dramatically in recent years, with Super Saver's win in the mud last spring the highest rated Derby in more than 20 years.

NBC spokesman John Miller said the Derby is the highest-rated show on NBC - including primetime - during the second quarter. He credited the uptick on better promotion and the active courting of female viewers.

``The last couple of years we have significantly tried to push the Kentucky Derby and transform it into a cultural event instead of a pure sporting event and a horse race,'' Miller said.

There also will be Derby-related segments on E! Network, the Weather Channel and CNBC. Also, there will be a red carpet watch on Access Hollywood and plenty of talk about hats and Derby outfits.

``We're putting things on E, Style and Daily Candy, all of that is geared toward making a cultural event out of the Kentucky Derby,'' Miller said.