Ever since his win in the Spiral Stakes at Turfway, I had kept my eye on Animal Kingdom. The young colt, already adept on two surfaces, showed a lot of promise in that start. He turned that promise to gold when he surged past 19 others to win the Kentucky Derby in 2011. After finishing a fast-closing second to Shackleford in the Preakness and enduring a tough trip in the Belmont, his racetrack appearances were sporadic. He came back in his four year-old season in a turf event at Gulfstream, prepping for the Dubai World Cup; Animal Kingdom won the race, but was sidelined with yet another injury after that.
He launched an incredible comeback from that injury, threading his way through the pack and finishing a brilliant second in the 2012 Breeders' Cup Mile to Wise Dan. After a second to top turf male Point of Entry in the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap, he was ready to shoot for Dubai again.
Joining him in the starting gate would be fellow Americans Royal Delta and Dullahan. The former, a headstrong dark mare and winner of two Breeders' Cup Distaffs, was quickest away, taking the lead and setting the pace for the majority of the race. Animal Kingdom sat right on her flank, biding his time. Not far behind was Godolphin's Hunter's Light, and even further back was Red Cadeaux; the seasoned globe-trotter was waiting to make an explosive move in the stretch.
They reached the turn; Royal Delta could do no more and dropped back rapidly. Taking her place was Animal Kingdom, whose strides lengthened as he entered the stretch. He was a sight to see as he pulled away from his rivals, leaving them in the dust. Only Red Cadeaux posed a challenge on the inside, but even he could not make up the ground on the Derby winner as they sailed across the wire. Animal Kingdom became the first American horse to do well in the World Cup since Meydan Racecourse had opened in 2010.
Joel Rosario was aboard the sleek chestnut stallion. It would be the first of many big wins for the jockey in 2013. Graham Motion and Barry Irwin reveled in their horse's success. Three months later, he would finish unplaced in his last start, the Queen Anne Stakes at Ascot. Soon after that, he would join the stallion barn at Darley, shuttling between Australia and America and passing his stamina-laden pedigree on to his offspring.
In the Derby, Animal Kingdom was merely a prince. The Dubai World Cup crowned him a king.
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