LOUISVILLE, Ky. — 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 returns to Maryland on Tuesday to begin preparations for the Preakness on May 21 at Pimlico in Baltimore, about 60 miles from his base at Fair Hill Training Center.
Trainer Graham Motion wants to keep jockey John Velazquez on his colt for the Preakness.
Animal Kingdom’s regular rider, Robby Albarado, broke his nose and had facial cuts and abrasions after a spill Wednesday. He took himself off his mounts Thursday and Friday. That influenced the decision of Barry Irwin, who oversees the Team Valor partnership that owns Animal Kingdom.
Irwin and Motion agreed to go with Velazquez, who was available after Uncle Mo was scratched Friday. Albarado said the decision to take days off “backfired.”
Uncle Mo’s trainer, Todd Pletcher, said the colt wouldn’t run in either of the final two Triple Crown races while the lingering ailment that is bothering him is diagnosed. That leaves Velazquez free to continue riding Animal Kingdom.
“It would be a very hard decision from me to get off this horse to go to another one,” the jockey said after winning his first Derby in 13 tries.
Irwin said it’s likely but not yet certain that Animal Kingdom will continue on the Triple Crown trail.
“I’m pretty sure we’re going to do it, but I want to talk about it,” he said. “I’m a careful guy, so let’s see how he’s doing.
“If you’ve got a horse that’s amazing, you can go for the Preakness. But your regular, average Derby winner has a real tough time coming back.”
Animal Kingdom proved his pedigree as a turf horse wrong in the Derby.
“Some of the best horses were ones who were able to handle both (turf and dirt),” Motion said.
Footnote.
Archarcharch was scheduled to have surgery Sunday after suffering a condylar fracture in his left front leg during his 15th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby.
