Animal Kingdom, who thrilled the racing world with his overpowering victory in the 137th Kentucky Derby, was rewarded at Monday night's Eclipse Awards ceremony in Beverly Hills by being named thoroughbred racing's Champion 3-year-old colt for 2011. The son of Leroidesanimaux, owned by Team Valor and trained by Graham Motion, prevailed in a tight finish with 114 first-place votes to 111 for runner-up Caleb's Posse. Shackleford finished a distant third with 12 votes.

Animal Kingdom captured the Gr. III Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park prior to winning the Derby, and his victory on the first Saturday in May came in his first try over a conventional dirt track. He next finished second in the Preakness, making a strong stretch run to just miss catching Shackleford which would have given him a chance to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978. In the Belmont Stakes, Animal Kingdom had problems at the break and was never a threat. He was then found to have a hind leg fracture and hasn't competed since.

Animal Kingdom has had three timed workouts at Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland and his anxiously-awaited return is imminent. It could come at the Gulfstream Park meeting, with the Dubai World Cup as his main objective.