Zoldan, horse ready for Derby

By Tom Williams | May 1, 2011 at 12:08a.m.

Bruce Zoldan

YOUNGSTOWN

Animal Kingdom, a horse owned by a group that includes Youngstown businessman Bruce Zoldan, is a go for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby.

Zoldan said Team Valor International’s 3-year-old thoroughbred did well during Saturday morning’s test on the Churchill Downs track and will participate in the Run for the Roses.

Animal Kingdom is the second Team Valor horse to qualify for the Derby since 2008. Visionaire finished 12th in the 2008 race.

Animal Kingdom qualified for the Kentucky Derby by winning the Spiral Stakes in March.

However, Team Valor owner Barry Irwin and trainer Graham Motion had concerns because of the soggy condition of the Churchill Downs track.

Heavy rains this spring have saturated Louisville, Ky., so Animal Kingdom’s handlers were worried that track could have been unstable because of surfacing material added to it to dry up some of the moisture.

Saturday morning, Animal Kingdom ran three-quarters of a mile and passed the test.

“Animal Kingdom did well on the dirt today,” Zoldan said “We’re live and running.”

Irwin delayed transporting Animal Kingdom the Louisville as long as possible. The horse ran on the Keeneland track in Lexington, Ky., on Thursday then was taken to Churchill Downs.

It will be a very busy week for Team Valor as another horse, the filly Summer Soiree, is entered for the Kentucky Oaks race May 6.

“This horse is maybe the fastest filly our group has ever had,” Zoldan said.