Master 5th in the Run for the Roses A record crowd of almost 165,000 spectators crammed into Churchill Downs to see Animal Kingdom win the 137th Kentucky Derby. Jockey John Velazquez was recording his first success in the race and he unleashed his mount off the home turn down the centre of the track with a burst that proved too much for Nehro and Mucho Macho Man in the closing stages as he won handily going away. Shackleford was on the pace from the start and kept on bravely for fourth while Aidan O'Brien's Master Of Hounds ran a gutsy race to finish just behind the principals in fifth. Velazquez had earlier in the week enjoyed a strange twist of fortune having seen his original mount Uncle Mo ruled out only to be called up to replace the injured Robby Alborado on the eventual winner. Velazquez said: "Words can't describe how I feel right now. "Of course I feel bad for Robby but this win is for the both of us - I know he is with me today. "I've been unlucky with injuries and missed big winners before in the past but today I've got lucky. I've lost the last three favourites for this through scratchings. "It was a bit tight at the first pole but I was soon happy and once I started my run I was always going to win," he told NBC. Barry Irwin, the mastermind behind winning owners Team Valor International, said: "I'm overwhelmed. This is unbelievable and I can't believe it. "I moved all my horses to Graham (Motion, trainer) because I grew tired of trainers lying to me and I wanted someone to tell me the truth."
