Animal Kingdom’s trainer is confident

Associated Press

BALTIMORE

Animal Kingdom won’t be sneaking up on anyone — even coming from behind.

The colt who came out of nowhere to win his first race on dirt in the Kentucky Derby is favored to win the Preakness Stakes today.

“I feel more relaxed than I have all week,” trainer Graham Motion said Friday. “I think I’ve done what I can do and it’s really out of my hands now. The nerve-racking stuff is just getting the training done and just trying to keep things straight.”

If Animal Kingdom can repeat his Derby success in the $1 million Preakness, he’ll set himself up for a Triple Crown try in three weeks in the Belmont Stakes.

It’s been 33 years since Affirmed swept the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont to become horse racing’s 11th Triple Crown winner.

Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito, who will saddle Dialed In, isn’t ready to anoint Animal Kingdom just yet.

“I’ll become a fan of Animal Kingdom if he keeps going on. I’m not saying Secretariat, Seattle Slew or Spectacular Bid yet,” he said, ticking off the names of previous greats.

“He’s done so many things that are so unusual; he just may be a very good horse. Hopefully, our little guy has something to say about it.”

Dialed In is the early 9-2 second choice after finishing eighth as the beaten favorite in the Derby. Zito hasn’t lost any confidence in his horse, who rallied late to make up a lot of ground two weeks ago.

“I still think, and not because I have him, that he’s still the best 3-year-old. That’s my opinion,” he said. “We’ll see what happens with Animal Kingdom, and there are so many other good horses in the race.”

Animal Kingdom will break from the No. 11 post, with Dialed In just inside, in post 10.

The biggest question surrounding Animal Kingdom going into the Derby was whether he could run on dirt. His pedigree suggested he was more of a turf horse, and he had run four times on synthetics and once on turf leading into the biggest race of his young career.

“Running him on the synthetic, it takes away their star power,” trainer Bob Baffert said. “When he got on dirt, he sort of separated himself from the pack. He’s definitely the horse to beat.”

Animal Kingdom’s 23/4-length win at Churchill Downs answered the skeptics. He figures to be nearly as fresh as some of his rivals, with the Preakness being just his second race in eight weeks.

“It’s going to be about staying out of trouble, very much like it was in the Derby,” Motion said. “Fourteen horses is a lot of horses to navigate, especially when you’re the one they’re gunning for.”