The Top World Rankings are compiled by a panel of handicappers, the rankings are for the period beginning Dec. 1, 2010, through May 23, 2011. The highest-rated American-based horses were Animal Kingdom, winner of the Kentucky Derby-G1 and Preakness S.-G1 winner Shackleford, co-weighted at 121 pounds with five other international runners.
Both horses could meet again in the Belmont Stakes on June 11.While the upset victory by Shackleford in the 136th Preakness Stakes on Saturday at Pimlico denied Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom a chance to shoot for the Triple Crown, there is a good chance that the final leg of the Triple Crown, the June […]
Team Valor bred the 4-year-old son of Cozzene in partnership with Mme A Fabre and Denali Stud and Partners. Out of the Poliglote mare Banyu Dewi he races for Team Valor. Left in the lead after Mashoor had run out early in the race, young Pierre-Charles Boudot set a sedate pace on Brigantin before quickening […]
Kentucky Derby hero Animal Kingdom had to settle for second in the Grade I Preakness S., defeated by a half-length to front running Shackleford. The Team Valor color bearer was off to a slow start and did not pick up the pace until the ¾ pole of the 1 1/16 mile classic. He closed gamely […]
When Team Valor International’s Animal Kingdom took the May 7 Kentucky Derby, he continued to validate the partnership’s worldwide approach to racing. The Versailles-based operation bred and races the chestnut colt, who is Bluegrass-born but sports an international pedigree. “I’ve only won a couple of really big ones and when it happens, it’s just surreal, […]
Now among racing’s royalty, Animal Kingdom has been calm, cool and collected since he was born reports Kathleen Irwin on NBC Sports. This week the Derby winner with David Nava aboard went about his morning workouts at the Fair Hill Training Center in Fair Hill, Md. This is trainer Graham Motion’s home base of operations […]
When longshots such as Animal Kingdom win the Kentucky Derby, they are frequently viewed with skepticism in the Preakness Stakes — and for good reason. The congested fields and sometimes suicidal early pace at Churchill Downs can produce fluky results. Last year, Super Saver won the Derby with a perfect, ground-saving trip while some of […]
Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom is one of nine Kentucky-breds in the field of 14 3-year-olds contesting the 136th running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico in Baltimore on Saturday. That’s 64% of the Preakness field, roughly two-thirds, and twice the percentage of Kentucky’s share of the overall U.S. foal crop of 2008, when there […]
Shortly before our sales graduate ANIMAL KINGDOM captured the Kentucky Derby, Denali Sales graduate STRAIGHT STORY captured the Grade III Fort Marcy S. at Belmont. The son of Giant’s Causeway, bred by Gallagher’s Stud, shot to the front and help his lead throughout the 11/16 mile for owner Richard Santulli. The following day at Woodbine […]
Team Valor International’s Animal Kingdom came from off the pace and roared down the stretch to win the 137th Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) by 2 3/4 lengths before a record crowd of 164,858 at Churchill Downs May 7. Second in the classic race worth $2,171,800 was Nehro. He finished a neck […]
