Animal Kingdom headed to Maryland

Last updated: 5/10/11 12:53 PM

Animal Kingdom with Team
Valor’s Barry Irwin
(Melissa Wirth/Horsephotos.com)

Team Valor International’s Kentucky Derby (G1) star ANIMAL
KINGDOM (Leroidesanimaux [Brz]) began his journey to Maryland Tuesday
morning, boarding a van at Churchill Downs.

The three-year-old colt is
headed to conditioner Graham Motion’s Fair Hill training center in
Maryland, where he will prepare for the second leg of the Triple Crown,
the May 21 Preakness S. (G1), at Pimlico.

“He is doing good and eating good, as always,” assistant trainer
Dave Rock said Monday.

Motion departed Louisville, Kentucky, for Fair Hill on Monday afternoon.
Prior to leaving, he did an interview for the Kentucky Derby Museum and got
choked up describing the experience of winning Kentucky Derby 137.

“Two days later, it is still surreal,” said Motion, who will turn 47 on the
day after the May 21 Preakness S. (G1). “I had thought about it (winning the Kentucky Derby).
There is not a trainer that doesn’t think about it. I just didn’t think it would
happen at this stage of my career.”

Animal Kingdom capped off a big weekend for the Motion barn here Derby Week
that comprised seven horses and the pony.

Smart Bid (Smart Strike) ran second in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1)
the race prior to the Derby and earlier on the Derby Day card Aruna (Mr.
Greeley) was second in the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (G2). Summer Soiree’s
(War Front) 10th-place Kentucky Oaks (G1) finish was the only off-the-board
placing for Motion runners that also included Deal Making (Empire Maker)
finishing third in an allowance race Friday.

Animal Kingdom will have company at Pimlico on Preakness Day as Motion plans
to bring last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) winner Shared Account
(Pleasantly Perfect) to Baltimore for the Gallorette (G3) at 1 1/16 miles on the
turf. The Gallorette will mark Shared Account’s 2011 debut.