Animal Kingdom arrives at Fair Hill

Animal Kingdom has arrived at Fair Hill to begin his Preakness preparations (Jamie Newell/Horsephotos.com) Kentucky Derby (G1) winner ANIMAL KINGDOM (Leroidesanimaux [Brz]) returned to his home base at the Fair Hill Training Center in Elkton, Maryland, Tuesday and is scheduled to jog on the main track at the complex at 8:30 a.m. (EDT) Wednesday. After a couple of days of jogging, the Team Valor International homebred is expected to gallop daily. Trainer Graham Motion said he hasn’t decided whether Animal Kingdom will work before the $1 million Preakness (G1). “I just want to see how he is,” Motion said. “Get him back here and see how he is.”

Animal Kingdom left Barn 22 at Churchill Downs at 5:15 a.m. Tuesday for the
van ride to Fair Hill. Joining the Derby 137 winner on the ride were Summer
Soiree (War Front), who was 10th in the Kentucky Oaks (G1), and a pony.

Motion traveled home from Kentucky on Monday. He said that his life has been
very different since Animal Kingdom hit the wire first in the Derby shortly
after 6:30 p.m. on Saturday.

“I don’t know how I could describe it in one short sentence,” the 46-year-old
trainer said. “To be honest, it’s been pretty overwhelming.”

Motion said it seems like his phone has been vibrating every 15 seconds
during the last couple of days.

“The support and the nice things that people have said have been very
overwhelming,” he said. “I really wasn’t emotional about it on Saturday and I’ve
become more emotional about it as the week has gone on.”

While Motion has been busy dealing with media requests, he has been careful
to absorb everything that comes with winning the Derby.

“I really just want to enjoy the ride. I want to enjoy the next 10 days. I’m
looking forward to the Preakness, but I don’t want to get too caught up in it
right now. I really just want to enjoy this ride.”