43
Kingdom & glory
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo
John Velazquez riding Animal Kingdom reacts after winning the 137th Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 7, 2011, in Louisville, Ky.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo
John Velazquez holds the Blanket of Roses after riding Animal Kingdom to victory during the 137th Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 7, 2011, in Louisville, Ky.
AP
Photo
John Velazquez rides Animal Kingdom to victory during the 137th Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 7, 2011, in Louisville, Ky.
20-1 long-shot bolts at end to win Kentucky Derby to delight of Team Valor, Valley businessman
By Tom Williams
As Animal Kingdom bolted down the homestretch to win Saturday’s Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Ky., Youngstown businessman Bruce Zoldan was standing on a chair being held up by friends so he could see his 20-l longshot finish an amazing journey.
“Unbelievable — it felt like an earthquake, with everyone jumping up and down,” said Zoldan of the commotion surrounding him. Zoldan is a member of Barry Irwin’s Team Valor International that owns Animal Kingdom.
“The place just shook,” said Zoldan who watched the race at Churchill Downs with his sons Alex and Ron.
“It was a once in a lifetime feeling,” the chief executive officer of B.J. Alan Fireworks said in a phone interview after the race. “He’s in the history books now.”
Animal Kingdom, who had never raced on dirt before, reacted to a new rider the way a champion should, charging down the middle of the stretch to win by 23/4 lengths. He ran 11/4 miles in 2:02.04 — well off Secretariat’s track record of 1:59.40 in 1973 — and paid $43.80, $19.60 and $13.
Nehro returned $8.80 and $6.40, while Mucho Macho Man was another neck back in third and paid $7 to show.
Dialed In went off as the 5-1 favorite for two-time Derby-winning trainer Nick Zito, but finished eighth.
An injury to Animal Kingdom’s regular rider, Robby Albarado, cleared the way for John Velazquez to pick up the mount.
Velaquez was scheduled to ride Uncle Mo, but that contender was scratched on Friday with a lingering stomach problem. Albarado was hurt on Wednesday when he was thrown from a horse and kicked in the face, suffering a broken nose.
Zoldan said Team Valor plans to race Animal Kingdom in the Preakness on May 21, the second jewel for horse racing’s Triple Crown. That race will be at Pimlico near Baltimore.
“It will take a day or say to confirm that he’s healthy,” Zoldan said. ”Then it will be on to Maryland to see if we can earn another place in the history books.”
Once Animal Kingdom was declared the winner, Zoldan made a trek that every racehorse owner dreams to make.
“It was a run to the winner’s circle,” Zoldan said. “At that point, I wished I was about 20 years younger.”
Zoldan, whose been a partner with Team Valor for 15 years, expressed his pleasure for Irwin, Team Valor’s founder.
“Barry Irwin is one of the smartest horse men in country and his relationship with [trainer] Graham Motion has blossomed,” Zoldan said.
Motion’s top Derby horse, Wood Memorial winner Toby’s Corner, never even made it to Louisville. He had a leg injury and never left Motion’s barn in Maryland.
“Somebody said, ‘Are you surprised to win with a second-tier horse?”’ Motion said. “I said, ‘I’m not sure we would categorize him as a second-tier horse. He’s been an extraordinary horse to train.”
Despite a wild week of uncertainty, Zoldan said Team Valor felt confident about Animal kingdom’s chances as the week progressed.
“It was the best feeling about a horse that I’ve ever had going into a race,” Zoldan said. “We were feeling very comfortable.
“When we saw that [favorite] Dialed In wasn’t doing well, that’s when we started thinking we really had a chance,” Zoldan said. “He sure showed that he likes the dirt.”
In a recent interview, Zoldan said Animal Kingdom was typical of Team Valor horses, one that usually started back in the pack then turn on the power in the final stretch.
“From where I could see, he appeared to be about three-quarters back before coming on,” said Zoldan of the 19-horse field.
“He was bred for distance. Coming around the final turn, I knew he had the power to pass. He proved it by pulling away from a lot of great horses.”
Zoldan spent Saturday evening at a private celebration with celebrity chef Guy Fieri cooking.
“Everyone’s telling me I’m expected to buy the champagne,” Zoldan said. “I’d say it’s worth it.”
The Associated Press contributed to this story.