Kentucky Derby champion Animal Kingdom won a $60,000 turf allowance race at Gulfstream Park on Saturday in his first start since June.
The Eclipse Award champion 3-year-old of 2011 moved in front during the turn into the homestretch and completed 1-1/16 miles in 1 minute, 41.72 seconds. Monument Hill finished second, two lengths ahead of Bell by the Ridge.
Animal Kingdom, the 3-5 favorite in a field of six, returned $3.20 on a $2 win bet.
After winning the Derby, Animal Kingdom lost to Shackleford in the Preakness by a half-length. He finished sixth in the Belmont Stakes, and it was then discovered he had a fracture in his left hind leg that required surgery and sidelined him the rest of the year.
Animal Kingdom, who returned to training in October, received a warm welcome from crowd before the race and again when he moved into the winner's circle.
Trainer Graham Motion and owner Barry Irwin of Team Valor have indicated the Dubai World Cup, a $10 million race March 31 in the United Arab Emirates is on the agenda for Animal Kingdom.
