Animal Kingdom Colt Back in His ‘Domain’ in American Turf

[Wandering Eyes]

West Point Thoroughbreds’s Untamed Domain (Animal Kingdom) put together a promising campaign as a juvenile competing on grass in 2017, capped by a closing runner-up finish behind GI Kentucky Derby hopeful Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy) in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Nov. 3. After a solid return third in the GIII Dania Beach S. over a grassy mile and a no-threat sixth in a try on dirt in the GII Tampa Bay Derby Mar. 10, the Graham Motion trainee returns to his preferred surface in Saturday’s GII American Turf S. at Churchill.

Untamed Domain’s greatest competition could come from a European invader in Evelyn Stockwell’s Threeandfourpence (War Front), who accompanied Mendelssohn as part of the Aidan O’Brien-trained contingent. The bay was less than a length adrift of his stablemate in the 32red Patton S. at Dundalk Mar. 9 over a synthetic strip before fading badly to finish ninth on dirt in the G2 UAE Derby.

The American Turf also features a rematch of five horses who ran behind undefeated ‘TDN Rising Star’ Analyze It (Point of Entry) in the GIII Transylvania S. at Keeneland Apr. 6. Captivating Moon (Malibu Moon) closed good ground to be second that day over a yielding turf course, while third-finishing Admiralty Pier (English Channel) is a logical threat to move forward in his second start off a winter layup. Treadway Racing Stable’s Maraud (Blame) was a somewhat disappointing fifth that day and returns in the American Turf as one of two entrants for Todd Pletcher, along with Channel Cat (English Channel), who was last seen annexing a Gulfstream Park allowance test Mar. 14.

Rail-drawn Speed Franco (Declaration of War), winner of the Dania Beach and runner-up in Gulfstream’s GIII Palm Beach S. Mar. 3 and Cutler Bay S. Mar. 31, figures to be prominent from the outset. Should a fast pace materialize, California shipper River Boyne (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) figures to run on late, as he did in his Pasadena S. victory at Santa Anita Mar. 17.

 

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