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Team Valor announced on their website that 2011 Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom will return to the races in this year's Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita, a development that is sure to add some punch to this year's festivities.
When we last saw Animal Kingdom, he was dominating a turf race at Gulfstream Park on February 18th. He came out of that race with an injury and has been on the sidelines ever since. Originally, Animal Kingdom was pointed towards this year's Dubai World Cup at Meydan, a race that now occurs over a synthetic surface.
Regardless of how well Animal Kingdom as been working, the running in the Mile in his first race since February is a daunting task for the Derby winner. Simply put, we rarely see horses win a Breeders' Cup race off of similar layoffs.
Last year I put together a chart of Breeders' Cup winners since 2005 and the layoffs for each. I haven't updated the data for include 2011 but I think it's clear that Animal Kingdom is attempting something historic.
| Year | Date | Race | Winner | LastTrack | LastDate | DaysOff | WeeksOff |
| 2006 | 4-Nov | Classic | Invasor | SAR | 5-Aug | 91 | 13 |
| 2010 | 6-Nov | Sprint | Big Drama | SAR | 4-Sep | 63 | 9 |
| 2008 | 25-Oct | Sprint | Midnight Lute | DMR | 24-Aug | 62 | 9 |
| 2007 | 26-Oct | Filly & Mare Sprint | Maryfield | SAR | 26-Aug | 61 | 9 |
| 2006 | 4-Nov | Turf | Red Rocks (IRE) | YOR | 6-Sep | 59 | 8 |
| 2007 | 27-Oct | Sprint | Midnight Lute | SAR | 1-Sep | 56 | 8 |
| 2006 | 4-Nov | Filly & Mare Turf | Ouija Board (GB) | LEO | 9-Sep | 56 | 8 |
| 2010 | 5-Nov | Marathon | Eldaafer | TP | 11-Sep | 55 | 8 |
| 2007 | 26-Oct | Dirt Mile | Corinthian | SAR | 1-Sep | 55 | 8 |
| 2005 | 29-Oct | Juvenile | Stevie Wonderboy | DMR | 7-Sep | 52 | 7 |
| 2010 | 6-Nov | Turf | Dangerous Midge | NBY | 17-Sep | 50 | 7 |
| 2005 | 29-Oct | Classic | Saint Liam | BEL | 10-Sep | 49 | 7 |
| 2010 | 5-Nov | Juvenile Fillies Turf | More Than Real | WO | 18-Sep | 48 | 7 |
| 2008 | 25-Oct | Mile | Goldikova (IRE) | LCH | 7-Sep | 48 | 7 |
| 2006 | 4-Nov | Juvenile Fillies | Dreaming of Anna | WO | 17-Sep | 48 | 7 |
| 2005 | 29-Oct | Sprint | Silver Train | BEL | 11-Sep | 48 | 7 |
| 2008 | 24-Oct | Filly & Mare Sprint | Ventura | WO | 7-Sep | 47 | 7 |
| 2009 | 7-Nov | Dirt Mile | Furthest Land | TP | 25-Sep | 43 | 6 |
| 2008 | 25-Oct | Turf | Conduit (IRE) | DON | 13-Sep | 42 | 6 |
| 2005 | 29-Oct | Juvenile Fillies | Folkore | BEL | 17-Sep | 42 | 6 |
| 2007 | 27-Oct | Mile | Kip Deville | WO | 16-Sep | 41 | 6 |
| 2009 | 7-Nov | Turf Sprint | California Flag | OSA | 30-Sep | 38 | 5 |
| 2010 | 6-Nov | Dirt Mile | Dakota Phone | OTH | 2-Oct | 35 | 5 |
| 2010 | 6-Nov | Classic | Blame | BEL | 2-Oct | 35 | 5 |
| 2009 | 7-Nov | Sprint | Dancing in Silks | OSA | 3-Oct | 35 | 5 |
| 2009 | 7-Nov | Mile | Goldikova (IRE) | LCH | 3-Oct | 35 | 5 |
| 2010 | 5-Nov | Filly & Mare Turf | Shared Account | BEL | 2-Oct | 34 | 5 |
| 2010 | 5-Nov | Ladies' Classic | Unrivaled Belle | BEL | 2-Oct | 34 | 5 |
| 2010 | 6-Nov | Mile | Goldikova (IRE) | LCH | 3-Oct | 34 | 5 |
| 2009 | 7-Nov | Juvenile Turf | Pounced | LCH | 4-Oct | 34 | 5 |
| 2009 | 7-Nov | Turf | Conduit (IRE) | LCH | 4-Oct | 34 | 5 |
| 2009 | 6-Nov | Juvenile Fillies Turf | Tapitsfly | BEL | 4-Oct | 33 | 5 |
| 2009 | 6-Nov | Filly & Mare Turf | Midday (GB) | LCH | 4-Oct | 33 | 5 |
| 2008 | 25-Oct | Turf Sprint | Desert Code | OSA | 24-Sep | 31 | 4 |
| 2009 | 7-Nov | Classic | Zenyatta | OSA | 9-Oct | 29 | 4 |
| 2008 | 25-Oct | Marathon | Muhannak (IRE) | DUN | 26-Sep | 29 | 4 |
| 2010 | 6-Nov | Turf Sprint | Chamberlain Bridge | KEE | 9-Oct | 28 | 4 |
| 2010 | 6-Nov | Juvenile | Uncle Mo | BEL | 9-Oct | 28 | 4 |
| 2009 | 6-Nov | Juvenile Fillies | She Be Wild | KEE | 9-Oct | 28 | 4 |
| 2009 | 6-Nov | Ladies' Classic | Life Is Sweet | OSA | 9-Oct | 28 | 4 |
| 2008 | 25-Oct | Dirt Mile | Albertus Maximus | OSA | 27-Sep | 28 | 4 |
| 2008 | 25-Oct | Classic | Raven's Pass | ASC | 27-Sep | 28 | 4 |
| 2007 | 27-Oct | Filly & Mare Turf | Lahudood (GB) | BEL | 29-Sep | 28 | 4 |
| 2006 | 4-Nov | Juvenile | Street Sense | KEE | 7-Oct | 28 | 4 |
| 2006 | 4-Nov | Sprint | Thor's Echo | OSA | 7-Oct | 28 | 4 |
| 2006 | 4-Nov | Mile | Miesque's Approval | KEE | 7-Oct | 28 | 4 |
| 2006 | 4-Nov | Distaff | Round Pond | BEL | 7-Oct | 28 | 4 |
| 2010 | 5-Nov | Filly & Mare Sprint | Dubai Majesty | KEE | 9-Oct | 27 | 4 |
| 2009 | 6-Nov | Filly & Mare Sprint | Informed Decision | KEE | 10-Oct | 27 | 4 |
| 2009 | 7-Nov | Juvenile | Vale of York (IRE) | MIL | 11-Oct | 27 | 4 |
| 2008 | 24-Oct | Juvenile Fillies | Stardom Bound | OSA | 27-Sep | 27 | 4 |
| 2008 | 24-Oct | Ladies' Classic | Zenyatta | OSA | 27-Sep | 27 | 4 |
| 2008 | 25-Oct | Juvenile | Midshipman | OSA | 28-Sep | 27 | 4 |
| 2007 | 27-Oct | Distaff | Ginger Punch | BEL | 30-Sep | 27 | 4 |
| 2007 | 27-Oct | Turf | English Channel | BEL | 30-Sep | 27 | 4 |
| 2007 | 27-Oct | Classic | Curlin | BEL | 30-Sep | 27 | 4 |
| 2005 | 29-Oct | Mile | Artie Schiller | BEL | 2-Oct | 27 | 4 |
| 2005 | 29-Oct | Turf | Shirocco (GER) | LCH | 2-Oct | 27 | 4 |
| 2008 | 24-Oct | Juvenile Fillies Turf | Maram | BEL | 1-Oct | 23 | 3 |
| 2009 | 6-Nov | Marathon | Man of Iron | DUN | 16-Oct | 21 | 3 |
| 2008 | 24-Oct | Filly & Mare Turf | Forever Together | KEE | 3-Oct | 21 | 3 |
| 2008 | 25-Oct | Juvenile Turf | Donativum (GB) | NEW | 4-Oct | 21 | 3 |
| 2007 | 27-Oct | Juvenile Fillies | Indian Blessing | BEL | 6-Oct | 21 | 3 |
| 2007 | 27-Oct | Juvenile | War Pass | BEL | 6-Oct | 21 | 3 |
| 2010 | 5-Nov | Juvenile Fillies | Awesome Feather | CRC | 16-Oct | 20 | 3 |
| 2005 | 29-Oct | Filly & Mare Turf | Intercontinental (GB) | KEE | 9-Oct | 20 | 3 |
| 2005 | 29-Oct | Distaff | Pleasant Home | KEE | 9-Oct | 20 | 3 |
| 2010 | 6-Nov | Juvenile Turf | Pluck | WO | 18-Oct | 19 | 3 |
| 2007 | 26-Oct | Juvenile Turf | Nownownow | KEE | 7-Oct | 19 | 3 |
That chart is pretty telling in terms of recent history. Animal Kingdom's layoff coming into the Mile towers over the three month layoff for Invasor and would be, by far, the longest layoff for a Breeders' Cup winner since 2005.
Animal Kingdom has worked steadily at the Fair Hill training center since late August, with his last three works on the turf.
| Date | Track | Dist | Time | Surf | Cond. | B/H |
| 10/02/2012 | FAI | 4F | :50.20 | Turf | Firm | B |
| 09/25/2012 | FAI | 4F | :49.00 | Turf | Firm | B |
| 09/18/2012 | FAI | 4F | :49.00 | Turf | Firm | B |
| 09/12/2012 | FAI | 5F | 1:01.40 | Dirt | Fast | B |
| 09/05/2012 | FAI | 4F | :48.40 | Dirt | Fast | B |
| 08/29/2012 | FAI | 4F | :48.40 | Dirt | Fast | B |
| 08/21/2012 | FAI | 3F | :37.20 | Dirt | Fast | B |
If Animal Kingdom were to win the Breeders' Cup Mile he would become a graded stakes winner on turf, dirt and synthetic and a Grade 1 winner on turf and dirt.
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