Animal Kingdom likely to run in Preakness
May 8, 2011LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom will be heading back to his home turf to await a likely run in the second leg of the Triple Crown.
He became the first horse in the 137-year history of the Derby to win in his debut on dirt, having run three times on synthetic surfaces and once on the turf in his four previous races.
Animal Kingdom will return to Maryland on Tuesday to begin preparations for the Preakness on May 21 at Pimlico, not far from his home base at Fair Hill Training Center.
Trainer Graham Motion wants to keep jockey John Velazquez on his colt for the Preakness, and it seems likely that will happen.