By Elaine Belval
Animal Kingdom was an unlikely Kentucky Derby winner on “dirt form,” the quality of his preps, and racing experience. He had raced only four times, all on turf or synthetics. His last race was the Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park, not one of the more prestigious prep races for the Kentucky Derby in the last 10 years. Animal Kingdom, however, did not care what anyone thought of his lack of experience, quality of competition or surface preferences. He clearly dominated what seemed an evenly matched Derby and ran one of the fastest closing half-miles in its storied history, at 20-1.
Animal Kingdom is by 2005 champion turf horse Leroidesanimaux, who was bred in Brazil by Haras Bage Do Sul. By Candy Stripes, he  is out of the ex-Juddmonte mare Dissemble. I had the privilege of working at Juddmonte Farms in Kentucky for several years and am familiar with this family from the inside: Dissemble is an older sister to the great mare Hasili (dam of five Grade 1 winners); and the family entered the Juddmonte stud book through the purchase of Sookera – a daughter of Roberto and winner of the prestigious Cheveley Park Stakes as a two-year-old. As any homebred program can attest, everything cannot be retained, and at the time, it was not clear exactly what Sookera’s subsequent generations would produce. So, the unraced Dissemble went through the ring (cheaply) and was sold to South American interests. Along with Leroidesanimaux, Dissemble also produced G1 winner Uapybo and G3 winner Disport – proving the true blue blood of this family.
Leroidesanimaux is by the French classic-placed Blushing Groom stallion Candy Stripes, a leading sire in Argentina. Many of his best runners were exported to race in the US and they include Horse of the Year Invasor (who has his first two-year-olds racing in 2011) in addition to Leroidesanimaux and others.
Leroidesanimaux’s race record is as impressive as his international pedigree. After finishing second in a South American G1 race (Brazil), he was sent to the US to race for TNT stables. He didn’t race here at 3, but he compiled a record of eight wins in 10 starts, including impressive victories in the G1 Citation H. and NCR in the G2 Fourstardave H. at Saratoga and the G3 Inglewood H. at Hollywood at 4 and 5. Altogether, he won three G1 events.
Leroidesanimaux retired to stud at Stonewall Farm in Kentucky. Despite his impressive pedigree and race record, he had two “knocks” against him – his South American-bred pedigree and his turf performances. This limited his stud fee and the number of mares bred to him versus comparable types.
But, despite having only 67 foals in his first crop (now four-year-olds), Leroidesanimaux has two graded winners and two graded-placed performers. Earlier this year, his daughter Always a Princess defeated champion Blind Luck in the G2 El Encino S. on the dirt at Santa Anita. His second crop has 59 named foals, and along with Animal Kingdom, it includes the G1 placed Glor Na Mara (second in the prestigious G1 Phoenix S. in Ireland). Leroidesanimaux ranks very highly in Bill Oppenheim’s APEX stallion ratings showcased in the Thoroughbred Daily News.
Animal Kingdom has a promising future based on his easy victory in the Derby. And it seems likely, Leroidesanimaux is finally going to get serious respect from US breeders.
Leroidesanimaux stands at Stonewall Farm in Ocala, FL and his 2011 fee is $10,000.
How many were in his 3rd crop?
Nice blend of analysis and data, Elaine. Leroi is a pretty cool animal with interesting prospects as an outcross for many lines and as an addition of stamina to most anything.
Cheers!