Horse racing-Animal Kingdown wins Kentucky Derby

LOUISVILLE, (Reuters) – Longshot Animal Kingdom won  today’s 137th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill  Downs in front of a record crowd of nearly 165,000 people.
Ridden by John Velazquez, a late replacement for injured  Robby Albarado, Animal Kingdom hit the lead approaching the  Twin Spires and kicked clear to win the $2.2 million, mile and  a quarter classic by 2 3/4 lengths.
Nehro finished second and Mucho Macho Man came third, a  neck behind the runner-up, while the favourite, Dialed In, was  eighth in the 19-horse field.
Velazquez, born in Puerto Rico, was originally booked to  ride the one-time favourite Uncle Mo but looked destined to  miss the race when Uncle Mo was scratched on Friday because of  a mystery illness. [ID:nN06176519]
But the 39-year-old jockey picked up the mount on Animal  Kingdom, a three-year-old son of Brazilian sire  Leroidesanimaux, when Albarado broke his nose after he was  kicked by a horse in the post parade for a midweek race.
“I feel bad for Robby,” said Velazquez, who won the Derby  for the first time after 12 attempts. “I had a really good trip  … once I pulled him out by the eighth pole, I knew he (would  win).”
Animal Kingdom’s victory also provided trainer Graham  Motion with his first Derby winner after his main runner, Wood  Memorial winner Toby’s Corner, was forced to withdraw because  of an injury.
Animal Kingdom was considered an outsider to win, paying  $43.80 for a $2 win bet in one of the most open Derbies in  years, despite winning two of his previous four career starts.
It was his first race on dirt and his first outing in six  weeks.
In keeping with tradition, the race was preceded by the  singing of “My Old Kentucky Home” and the winner was draped in  a garland of red roses as the massive crowd packed into the  course to watch the race, dressed in an array of outfits and  sipping on mint julep drinks.
The Irish-trained Master of Hounds finished fifth while  Pants on Fire, ridden by Rosie Napravnik, the only female  jockey in the race, was ninth.
Nehro, ridden by Corey Nakatani, looked set to win when he  surged to the front at the top of the straight but could not  hold off the fast-finishing Animal Kingdom.
Mucho Macho Man, whose trainer Kathy Ritvo is a  heart-transplant survivor, boxed on well to take third, just  ahead of Shackleford, who led the field when they passed the  post the first time.