Baltimore, Maryland, USA (NEWSTABULOUS) – The 2011 Kentucky Derby was the 137th running of the race, which took place on May 7th, with a post time of 6:24 pm.
A record crowd of 164,858 spectators were on hand at the track for this historic race.
“Dialed In” had the odds on the favorite and was looking to win it all, but it was “Animal Kingdom,” ridden by John Valazquez, who took the first win in the Triple Crown at Churchill Downs.
“Animal Kingdom,” a three year old chestnut colt, is owned by Team Valor International and trained by Graham Motion. He broke from the no. 16 post to finish in 2:02:04.
Valazquez, one of the top jockeys in the industry and a finalist for the Hall of Fame, was scheduled to ride “Uncle Mo,” who was scratched from the race early Friday morning due to a gastrointestinal infection.
Animal Kingdom was four lengths off the lead heading into the first turn, but was able to break out to win by just over two lengths. Valazquez said:
“He gave me so much confidence going into that first turn…it’s like you have the horse to get out of trouble and get to the spot you want…When I asked him to run, he was ther for me. It’s a feeling you can’t describe.”
Animal Kingdom is the first horse in the Kentucky Derby history to win in his debut on a dirt track. His previous four faces were on synthetic surfaces or turf.
Animal Kingdom is going on the Preakness Stakes, the second race of the Triple Crown, on May 21.
photo:slam.canoe.ca
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