Animal Kingdom, in his first race on a dirt surface, roared from the pack to capture the 137th Kentucky Derby this afternoon at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. A 20-1 choice ridden by John Velazquez, who lost his ride on Uncle Mo Friday when the horse was scratched, Animal Kingdom chased down Shackleford, who led almost the entire race. Animal Kingdom is trained by Graham Motion in Maryland. Nehro also made a run, but finished 2nd with Mucho Macho Man 3rd. Shackleford faded to a 4th place finish. Animal Kingdom paid $43.80, $19.60 and $13 on a $2 bet. Nehro returned $8.80 and $6.40. Mucho Macho Man paid $7. After the race, Animal Kingdom's owner, Barry Irwin, said: "I can't believe it, that's the headline. I'm just thrilled". The largest crowd in the history of the event, 164,858, packed Churchill Downs to watch as the best 3 year olds in the world competed for the blanket of roses. The most talented 3 year-old in the country, Uncle Mo, didn't even make it to the gate because he had to be scratched a day before the race with a mysterious illness that his trainer and a team of veterinarians have been unable to diagnose. That left the field as wide-open and unpredictable as ever. Next up for Animal Kingdom will the The Preakness, the 2nd race in the Triple Crown, on May 21 at Pimlico in Baltimore.
No comments:
Post a Comment