And the Winner Is...

The 137th Kentucky Derby has come and gone and the winner is Animal Kingdom.  The 20-1 long shot jockeyed by John Velazquez beat out favorites such as Nehro and Dialed In to be the first Kentucky Derby win for Velazquez.  Velazquez was scheduled to ride Uncle Mo but the horse was scratched because of a lingering stomach problem.  He took the reins of Animal Kingdom when the horses regular jockey, Robby Albarado was thrown from his horse and kicked in the face resulting in a broken nose three days prior to the running of the Derby.



Animal Kingdom and John Velazquez took to one another straight away.  Animal Kingdom had never raced on a dirt track but he ran the 1 1/4 mile Derby in 2:02.04.  The largest crowed in Kentucky Derby history, 168,858, watched Animal Kingdom and John Velazquez win the Roses.

A couple of frightening moments in the Derby:  Archarcharch started from the inside rail and was vanned off the track with a leg fracture that will require non-life-threatening surgery.  Comma to the Top also chipped his left ankle, an injury which will sideline him for a couple of months.

A heartfelt congratulations to John Velazquez and Animal Kingdom! Well done!

The final standings for the 2011 Kentucky Derby are:

1st Place:  Animal Kingdom
2nd Place:  Nehro
3rd Place:  Mucho Macho Man

4th Place:  Pacesetter Shackleford
5th Place:  Master of Hounds
6th Place:  Santiva
7th Place:  Brilliant Speed
8th Place:  Dialed In
9th Place:  Pants on Fire
10th Place:  Twice the Appeal
11th Place:  Soldat
12th Place:  Stay Thirsty
13th Place:  Derby Kitten
14th Place:  Decisive Moment
15th Place:  Archarcharch
16th Place:  Midnight Interlude
17th Place:  Twinspired
18th Place:  Watch Me Go
19th Place:  Comma to the Top

For more information on the Kentucky Derby:  http://www.kentuckyderby.com/