Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom fires bullet work for Belmont Stakes
2,410 views · Published 6 June 2011 · 0:34 · Indexed 25 October 2026
Channel: The New York Racing Association · 2011 · Sports
Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom signaled his readiness for the rematch with Preakness winner Shackleford in Saturday's Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes with a bullet half-mile work this morning in 47.76 under jockey John Velazquez. The move was the fastest of 32 at the distance over Belmont Park's main track. The Derby winner and Corredor Dela Isla, another colt owned by Team Valor International, entered the track shortly before 9 a.m. following the renovation break and proceeded directly to the backside, with Animal Kingdom breaking off about a length behind his workmate on the outside. The pair came into the stretch on even terms, with Animal Kingdom hitting the wire a head in front before galloping out strongly on his own terms. NYRA clockers caught Animal Kingdom in an opening quarter-mile of 24.18, galloping out in 1:00.60 and up in 1:14.38. "He was half-way running off with me," said Velazquez. "I took him as slowly as I could. He got very competitive with the other horse. After he passed him after the wire, he kept galloping very strong. He knew he had the jockey on top of him because he just played with me. He had me at 'hello.' I'm trying to gallop him behind the other horse, and he played with me." Trainer Graham Motion said he was pleased with the way Animal Kingdom, who was shipped to New York Sunday from his training center Fair Hill, Md., looked in his first serious move over the track. "I thought it was super; Johnny said he did it all on his own," said Motion. "He didn't even ask him to gallop out. That why I only wanted to go a half with him; I thought he would gallop out really strong. I don't think it could have gone any better."
