Derby Horses

Current Odds: 30-1 Leroidesanimaux--Dalicia, by Acatenango

Prep Race History

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Connections

H. Graham Motion

Trainer

Motion, a native of Cambridge, England, moved to the United States at age 16 with his father who was a United States representative for the British sales company Tattersalls. Motion has captured over 1,000 races in his career and has had 2 starters in the Kentucky Derby. His biggest career wins came with Better Talk Now in the 2004 Breeders’ Cup Turf and Shared Account in the 2010 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

John Velazquez

Jockey

John Velazquez has ridden in twelve editions of the Kentucky Derby.  He won the 2011 Kentucky Derby aboard Animal Kingdom. He won the 2004 Kentucky Oaks with Ashado, who would win the Eclipse Award for top Three-Year-Old filly in 2004 and in 2005 won for Top Older Female.

Team Valor International

Owner

Team Valor International is a syndicate race horse ownership group under the leadership of Barry Irwin. Team Valor has started 3 horses in the Kentucky Derby, with their top finisher being Captain Bodgit who ran second in 1997. Other Team Valor stars include Gitano Hernando, Cashier’s Dream, Unbridled Belle, Pluck, and Visionaire.

  • Photo: Pat Lang Photography

  • Photo: Pat Lang Photography

  • Photo: Pat Lang Photography

Pedigree

  • Turf-oriented pedigree features plenty of stamina on the dam's side.
  • Animal Kingdom was bred in Kentucky by owner Team Valor
  • From the second crop of the outstanding Brazilian-bred miler Leroidesanimaux, who won eight straight races in the United States en route to earning an Eclipse Award as the nation's champion turf male. His streak, compiled over two seasons, included such top-caliber events as the Citation H. (G1), Frank E. Kilroe Mile H. (G1) and Atto Mile (Can-G1), the latter by an astounding 7 3/4 lengths, as well as a couple of course records at Hollywood Park and Saratoga. His skein was snapped with a game second in the 2005 Breeders' Cup Mile (G1), his final career start, where he was compromised by foot problems.
  • Leroidesanimaux's leading earner so far is Always a Princess. Although bred top and bottom for turf, she excelled on the dirt, capturing last year's Indiana Oaks (G2) and this winter's El Encino S. (G2) and La Canada S. (G2) before sustaining a career-ending injury. His other notable performers include Crimson Knight, recently a near-miss second in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2); Leroy's Dynameaux, a Grade 3 winner on turf; and multiple Group 1-placed Glor Na Mara, currently a classic hopeful in Europe.
  • Animal Kingdom is the first foal from German Group 3 heroine Dalicia, a classy performer from 1 1/4 miles up to 1 3/8 miles on the grass. The winner of the Preis der Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe (Ger-G3) over accomplished males, she also placed in a trio of stakes in her homeland.
  • Dalicia is by the high-class stamina influence Acatenango, the German Horse of the Year of 1987 and a seven-time Group 1 star at around 1 1/2 miles, boasting consecutive scores in both the Grosser Preis von Baden (Ger-G1) and Aral-Pokal (Ger-G1), along with single titles in the Grand Prix de Saint Cloud (Fr-G1), Grosser Preis von Berlin (Ger-G1) and Deutsches (German) Derby (Ger-G1).
  • After winning 15 of his last 19 starts, Acatenango embarked upon a terrific stud career, siring three German Derby winners -- German Horse of the Year Lando, later a hero of the Japan Cup (Jpn-G1) and a successful sire himself; the millionaire filly Borgia, who beat males in three major contests and placed in the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1); and Nicaron. Among his other champions are globetrotting $2 million-earner Quijano and a slew of highweight stayers like Wurftaube, Caudillo and El Tango. American racing fans may be familiar with a couple of his runners who have enjoyed success in the United States, Grade 1 victor Sabiango and current Grade 2 scorer Musketier.
  • Daughters of Acatenango have produced the likes of Eclair de Lune, reigning winner of the Beverly D. S. (G1); Preis der Diana (German Oaks) (Ger-G1) queen Mystic Lips; Italian Group 1 hero Querari; Group 2 victors Flamingo Fantasy and King Dancer, both placed at the Group 1 level; multiple Group 2-winning marathoner Askar Tau; and champion Turkish stayer Nash Bishop.
  • Dalicia is a full sister to the winning Darwinia, who is herself the dam of multiple stakes victress Daveron, runner-up in the 1 1/2-mile Long Island H. (G3) last fall. Dalicia and Darwinia are out of Dynamis, a daughter of the all-time European great Dancing Brave.
  • Dynamis is a half-sister to German highweight juvenile filly Desidera and to Diacada, winner of the Henkel-Rennen (German One Thousand Guineas) (Ger-G2). Their dam, Diasprina, ranked as Germany's champion two-year-old filly of 1988.

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