Animal Kingdom wins first race after injury
February 18, 2012HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Kentucky Derby champion Animal Kingdom won a $60,000 turf allowance race at Gulfstream Park on Saturday in his first start since June.
Last year's Eclipse Award champion 3-year-old moved in front during the turn into the homestretch and completed 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.72. Monument Hill finished second, two lengths ahead of Bell by the Ridge.
After winning the Derby, Animal Kingdom lost to Shackleford in the Preakness by a half-length. He finished sixth in the Belmont Stakes, and it was then discovered he had a fracture in his left hind leg that required surgery and sidelined him the rest of the year.
Animal Kingdom, who returned to training in October, received a warm welcome from crowd before the race and again when he moved into the winner's circle.