HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Animal Kingdom, the 2011 Kentucky Derby winner, will make his first start since June on Saturday in a $60,000 turf allowance at Gulfstream Park.
Last year’s Eclipse Award champion 3-year-old will make his return in a 1 1/16-mile race for non-winners of three races other than maiden, claiming or starter. Trainer Graham Motion plans the race as a prep for a start in the $10 million Dubai World Cup on March 31.
After winning the Derby, Animal Kingdom lost to Shackleford in the Preakness by a half-length. He finished sixth in the Belmont Stakes, and it was then discovered he had a fracture in his left hind leg that required surgery and sidelined him the rest of the year.
