As expected, the results of the 2011 Kentucky Derby were as surprising as they have ever been, with a record number of horses closing the betting lines in double digit odds. It seemed to be a sentimental field with a lot of action on the heart-warming story of trainer Kathy Ritvo, which drove Mucho Macho Man's odds down to 9-1 by start time. Calvin Borel did not figure in the action, but he may have swayed the entire board in the days leading to the race, driving Twice the Appeal's horse racing odds from 30-1 all the way down to 7-1 at one point, before closing up at 10-1. In the end, it was the surprise of all surprises. Animal Kingdom, who hit the gates as a 20-1 long shot at Bodog.com, roared down the back half of the track on the outside to hold off Nehro and Mucho Macho Man at the finish line.

Animal Kingdom got it at the wire by about a length to win the 2011 Kentucky Derby and it was his first race on a dirt surface. Animal Kingdom at 20-1 odds, paid out huge because he was far from a favorite, or contender, in the Derby. Velazquez deftly kept Animal Kingdom out of trouble in the 19-horse field and the colt covered the 1 1/4-mile distance in 2:02.04. The $2 exacta on Animal Kingdom and Nehro paid out a hefty $329.80, but if you also tacked on Mucho Macho Man for the trifecta, you're walking away with $3952.40. An unbelievable payout for what was truly unexpected as Dialed In, the race-time favorite at 5-1, did not even factor close to the finish.

Dialed in finished eighth in a very disappointing performance for Nick Zito and company. On a sad note, the Arkansas Derby winner Archarcharch, who started from the rail, was vanned off the track with a leg injury and was taken to the backside barns for an X-ray. All in all, there was no way you could have predicted this race as is evidenced by the $48,160 superfecta payout. There are two more legs to go in the 2011 Triple Crown season, so let's see if Animal Kingdom can make some more history this summer.

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