Derby winner Animal Kingdom set for 2012 debut

Team Valor chief executive officer Barry Irwin says Animal Kingdom will use the 1 1-16-mile turf race as a prep for the $10 million Dubai World Cup in late March. Animal Kingdom hasn't raced since finishing sixth in the Belmont Stakes last June.

He came out of the race on a sloppy track injured and underwent surgery that month. He's had six workouts since Dec. 24 in Florida.

Trainer Graham Motion says he thinks a turf race will be easier on Animal Kingdom as he makes a comeback.