Animal Kingdom turned in a bullet, five-furlong breeze Jan. 14 at Palm Meadows Training Center as the 2011 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner moves a step closer to his 2013 racing debut.
Working for the second straight Monday and the fifth time since Dec. 11, Animal Kingdom completed five furlongs in 1:02.08 on the turf. The breeze was fastest of 17 at the distance on the turf. In a Twitter post, trainer Graham Motion said the 5-year-old Leroidesanimaux horse galloped out in 1:14.
The champion 3-year-old male of 2011 is targeting the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (gr. IT) on Feb. 9. Team Valor International's Animal Kingdom closed out 2012 with a late-charging runner-up finish to Wise Dan in the Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) on Nov. 3 at Santa Anita Park.
