For the second time in eight days, Animal Kingdom breezed six furlongs on the turf in preparation for the Breeders’ Cup Mile (gr. IT) Nov. 3 at Santa Anita Park.
The 2011 Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner completed a the three-quarters move in 1:13 flat at Fair Hill Training Center Oct. 18. The breeze was five seconds faster than his breeze at the same distance Oct. 10 at Fair Hill.
The Leroidesanimaux colt was the only horse to work the distance on the turf at Fair Hill Oct. 18.
In a Twitter message, trainer Graham Motion called the drill the final serious work for Animal Kingdom before the Breeders’ Cup. Motion plans to ship Animal Kingdom to Keeneland next week.
Motion is using workouts to prepare last year’s champion 3-year-old male for the Mile. Animal Kingdom has not raced since a visually impressive two-length victory in a 1 1/16-mile allowance optional claiming race Feb. 18 at Gulfstream Park.
Animal Kingdom missed 60 days in training earlier this year to recover from a hairline fracture of the ilium, a part of the pelvis. He returned to galloping une 21 at his Fair Hill base.