Animal Kingdom reigns in 137th Kentucky Derby

Long shot Animal Kingdom leapt to victory in the 2011 Kentucky Derby May 7th at Louisville’s Churchill Downs racetrack before a record crowd of 164,858. John Velazquez, the winning jockey, rode the Kentucky-bred chestnut colt, picking up his own first Derby win on the Team Valor International entry.

Velazquez picked up the mount May 6th, replacing Animal Kingdom’s regular rider, Robby Albarado, who suffered a broken nose in a post parade accident earlier in the week. Albarado’s mount stepped on his face, injuring the popular jockey.

Velazquez had planned to ride Uncle Mo until the Repole Stables colt was scratched from the Run for the Roses for a pesky gastrointestinal ailment.

In his first dirt race, Animal Kingdom (Leroidesanimaux x Dalicia by Acatenango) finished the 1 ¼-mile race in 2:02.04, breaking from the pack in the last stretch and crossing the finish line two and three quarter lengths ahead of Nehro in the 19-horse outing.

“When I asked him to do something he was there for me,” Velazquez recounted after the race. “A good horse gets you out of trouble."

Mucho Macho Man was third, coming in a neck behind Nehro. Shackleford was fourth.

H. Graham Motion, Animal Kingdom’s trainer, was elated with the win, particularly as his early prime Derby prospect was scratched. Toby’s Corner suffered an injury and remained at home in Maryland.

Team Valor International’s Barry Irwin commented on the Animal Kingdom jockey switch. “It was a tough call, because I really like Robby,” he said. “But we’ve got 20 partners … and I had to do what I thought was best for the partnership.”

Archarcharch, ridden by jockey Jon Court for trainer Jinx Fires,  suffered a non-life-threatening leg fracture in the race.

In the end, for unfortunate jockey Albarado, a horse’s kick in the face turned out to be a proverbial kick in the teeth, as he watched a fellow jockey take his planned mount to the Winner’s Circle in the Kentucky Derby.

Here’s the final run-down from the 2011 Kentucky Derby results:

1. Animal Kingdom
2. Nehro
3. Mucho Macho Man
4. Shackleford
5. Master of Hounds
6. Santiva
7. Brilliant Speed
8. Dialed In
9. Pants on Fire
10. Twice the Appeal
11. Soldat
12. Stay Thirsty
13. Derby Kitten
14. Decisive Moment
15. Archarcharch
16. Midnight Interlude
17. Twinspired
18. Watch Me Go
19. Comma to the Top

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