LOUISVILLE, Ky. - John Velazquez won the Kentucky Derby by a broken nose. An injury to Animal Kingdom's regular rider, Robby Albarado, cleared the way for Velazquez to pick up the mount on the 20-1 long shot. Once he took the reins Saturday, he rode his good luck all the way to the winner's circle. Animal Kingdom, left, leading Mucho Macho Man, center, who finished third, and the runner-up Nehro to the wire. Animal Kingdom's jockey, John Velazquez, won the Derby for the first time. Animal Kingdom sped past the leaders in the turn at Churchill Downs on Saturday and roared down the middle of the stretch to win the Kentucky Derby. A wide-open, undistinguished field did not diminish the Kentucky Derby one bit. Animal Kingdom entered as a 20-1 long shot, but his win should come as no surprise, says Mark Beech. LOUISVILLE (Reuters) - Longshot Animal Kingdom won Saturday's 137th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in front of a record crowd of nearly 165,000 people. A horse that had never run on dirt overcame steep obstacles with a jockey who was only paired with him on Wednesday, covering the track in 2:02.04. (05-07) 16:54 PDT Louisville, Ky. (AP) -- John Velazquez won the Kentucky Derby by a broken nose. An injury to Animal Kingdom's regular rider, Robby Albarado, cleared the way for Velazquez to pick up the mount and once... Animal Kingdom -- a longshot pick to win running of the Kentucky Derby -- surprises favorites in 2011 race Animal Kingdom won the Kentucky Derby. Boasting one of the most wide-open fields in recent memory, the 137th annual Kentucky Derby took place at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky on Saturday evening (May 7). With the event being opened up by Jordin Sparks singing the National Anthem, a fashionably fabulous packed crowd then joined in on the traditional singing of "My Old Kentucky Home". Offering up plenty of drama, the race saw jockey John Velazquez sprint from a middle of the pack standing to take 3-year-old colt Animal Kingdom to victory over runner-up Nehro. Interestingly enough, Velazquez was first slated to ride late scratch Uncle Mo before being called on to replace injured jockey Robby Albarado, who broke his nose after falling from his horse during a post parade at Churchill Downs earlier in the week. Always a well-attended event, other star sightings at the Derby included TLC reality star Kate Gosselin, Vanessa Minnillo, Nick Lachey, Miranda Lambert and Marisa Miller, as well as "Private Practice" star Kate Walsh, ESPN reporter Erin Andrews and reality star Aubrey O'Day.
Key Words: animal kingdom
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