Jockey John Velazquez wasn’t even supposed to mount Animal Kingdom on Saturday.
A day after losing his ride when Uncle Mo was scratched due to a gastrointestinal problem, Velazquez rode Animal Kingdom to victory at the 2011 Kentucky Derby. It was Velazquez’s first career win at the first leg of the Triple Crown, which makes this day even more special for the jockey from Carolina, Puerto Rico.
Animal Kingdom was a long-shot coming into this week at 30/1. His odds didn’t wavier much, as bettors focused on the favorite Dialed In, the Calvin Borel-mounted Twice The Appeal, and Pants On Fire (who was ridden by 23-year-old Rosie Napravnik, who was hoping to become the first-ever female to win the Kentucky Derby).
But in the end, Dialed In finished a disappointing eighth after spending much of the race in the rear. Borel never got Twice The Appeal moving either, because the combo finished 10th and Pants On Fire came in ninth.
A $2 wager on Animal Kingdom paid $43.80 to win, $19.60 to place and $13.00 to show. Nehro finished second and paid $8.80 to place and $6.40 to show, while Mucho Macho Man paid out $7.00 on a $2 wager to show.
A $2 Exacta on Animal Kingdom and Nehro paid out $329.80, while a $2 Trifecta of Animal Kingdom, Nehro and Mucho Macho man paid out $3,952.40. Finally, a winning $2 superfecta of Animal Kingdom, Nehro, Mucho Macho Man and Shackleford (who lead for most of the race) paid $48,126.00.
The track announced that 164,858 people attended the race, which set a new attendance record for the Kentucky Derby. It surpassed the previous record crowd of 163,628 set back in 1974.
