Second US Stakes-Winner for Animal Kingdom

Tara Madgwick - Tuesday August 8
Two year-old colt Continental Divide scored a stylish win in the $US100,000 Graduation Stakes at Del Mar on Sunday to give Animal Kingdom (USA) his second stakes-winner from 11 first-crop US runners.

At only his second start, Continental Divide jumped smartly and settled to race mid-field until the home turn he swept past his rivals for an easy win, almost a length ahead of Smokem, who had beaten him on his 21 July debut.

Animal KingdomThe colt's performance, running the 5.5 furlongs (~1100 metres) in 1:05.27, impressed his trainer Jim Cassidy. 

"He wants to go farther. For him to go five-and-a-half, you try him out of his element and he still wins," he said.

Owned by former technology executive Deron Pearson, Continental Divide was bought from the Barretts May Sale of 2YOs in training at Del Mar for $US245,000, the top price at the Sale.

He is the third winner from stakes-placed mare Bandora, from the family of Group 1 winner Love Theway Youare.

Animal Kingdom has done well with his first crop of Australian two year-olds with six winners last season including Group III placed Lord Cecil, Flemington winner Royal Phoenix and highly promising Earth Angel, the daughter of champion filly Miss Finland.

Winner of both the Kentucky Derby and Dubai World Cup, Animal Kingdom stands at Arrowfield this spring at a fee of $27,500.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Transatlantic Takes $1million Five Diamonds Prelude
Transatlantic’s lucrative spring carnival continued at Randwick with an arrogant victory in the $1m Five Diamonds Prelude.
Cream Rises at Trentham
A half-sister by Hello Youmzain (Fr) to dual Group I winner Mustang Valley, exciting filly Cream Tart is set to line up in one of the major three-year-old races over New Zealand Cup Week following her impressive win in Sunday’s Upper Hutt Car Sales LTD Three-Year-Old (1400m) at Trentham.
Yes Yes Yes 3YO Shooting for G2 on Monday
Last year’s Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) set Savaglee up for Group One glory in Christchurch, and Matamata trainer Pam Gerard is hoping to follow a similar blueprint in 2025 with her Yes Yes Yes 3YO Affirmative Action..
Pedigree Watch - Powerhouse Godolphin 3YOs Dominate
The current crop of three year-olds running for Godolphin lay claim to being the best they have ever produced in Australia and three of those colts won Group races in Australia on Saturday so let’s take a look at those pedigrees.
Aussie Angel Wins Derby
There was an army of Kiwi raiders lining up in the $2million Group I ATC Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on Saturday but the victory went to the Aussie's with Kembla Grange trainer Gwenda Markwell taking the prize with her Animal Kingdom (USA) gelding Angel of Truth.
Wootton Bassett Colt Leads Coolmore G1 Trifecta
The last British Group I race of the flat season was run overnight at Doncaster with Aidan O’Brien producing a trifecta of two year-old colts led by a son of the late Wootton Bassett (GB) in Hawk Mountain, who was too good for a pair of Frankel colts.
Sale Cup Winner Adds to Fastnet Rock Super Weekend
It’s been quite the weekend for the late great champion sire Fastnet Rock with a Cox Plate quinella on Saturday and then on Sunday he produced a new stakes-winner when seven year-old gelding El Rocko captured the $200,000 Listed Sale Cup (1600m).
Wild Planet Wins $300,000 Inglis Guineas
Exciting 3YO Wild Planet benefited from a perfect Tommy Berry ride to score his second Stakes victory in today’s $300,000 Inglis Guineas at Scone.
Sires With Winners - Saturday October 25
Here is the full list of 136 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Animal Kingdom Gelding Too Strong in Tulloch Stakes
The winner of three races on his home track at Kembla Grange, the Glenda Markwell-trained Angel Of Truth made a winning trip to the big smoke on Saturday when leading all the way in the Group II Tulloch Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill and in the process earned his chance in next weeks Group 1 ATC Australian Derby.