Animal Kingdom made a triumphant return to the races at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 18, winning a $49,200 allowance optional claimer on the turf with a display of style under John Velazquez. The 4-year-old colt by Leroidesanimaux thus ended a two-year run where Kentucky Derby winners never won another race. The Derby had turned out to be the last victory in the careers of Mine That Bird (2009) and Super Saver (2010).

Velazquez took Animal Kingdom away from the gate last in the six-horse field racing a mile and one-sixteenth, but kept his colt off the rail to avoid trouble. Down the backstretch, Animal Kingdom made a quick burst on the outside to move up to third, then went after the leaders and took the lead at the top of the stretch. Monument Hill came after the 3/5 favorite briefly as they passed the eighth pole, but Velazquez and Animal Kingdom hit another gear and the colt sped away to score by two lengths in 1:41.72.

The Kentucky-bred colt, owned by Team Valor International and trained by Graham Motion, earned $28,800 as he raised his bank account to $1,967,500 on a record of 4-3-0 in eight starts. He can surpass the $2 million mark chasing his next goal, the $10 million Dubai World Cup in March.