Animal Kingdom worked an easy half mile on turf in :53.44 at Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida Jan. 17, the day after he was honored with an Eclipse Award as 2011’s champion 3-year-old male. Even though the time was leisurely, it was the fastest among the 13 workers on turf that morning.
The move was the chestnut colt’s first work since arriving in South Florida.
A Team Valor International homebred, Animal Kingdom hasn’t raced since his sixth-place finish in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) last June. A hairline fracture was found in his left hock afterward and he underwent surgery to stabilize the injury.
Animal Kingdom captured the Kentucky Derby Presented By Yum! Brands (gr. I) and the Vinery Racing Spiral Stakes (gr. III) in 2011. A 4-year-old son of Leroidesanimaux and the Acatenango mare Dalicia, he has earned $1,938,700.
Graham Motion trains Animal Kingdom, who is being pointed toward the $10 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) in March. He will have a prep race on turf in February. One of the colt’s standout stablemates, Toby's Corner, also worked a half mile at Palm Meadows Jan. 17. His time over dirt was :50.25.
Bred and owned by Dianne Cotter, Toby’s Corner hasn’t raced since winning the Resorts World New York Casino Wood Memorial Stakes (gr. I) last April. He is a chestnut 4-year-old son of Bellamy Road and the Mister Frisky mare Brandon’s Ride.