2012 debut for Animal Kingdom decided

Horseracing Betting Lines

02/01/2012 - Oldsmar, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Eclipse Award winner Animal Kingdom will begin his four-year-old campaign later this month at Tampa Bay Downs. Team Valor's . Barry Irwin and trainer Graham Motion announced the decision in a press release.

"The Tampa Bay (Feb. 25) will allow him enough works to be fit enough to start back," Motion said. "Any of these earlier races would have been pushing it. We want to have him fit for his first race so it doesn't take too much out of him for the race that we're really pointing for."

The Tampa Bay Stakes is a turf race at 1 1/16-miles and is being used to prep the colt for the $10 million Dubai World Cup on March 31 which is run on a synthetic track.

"I think a turf race will be easier on him coming back," Motion said. "It's a little kinder than the dirt. If the race in Dubai was on dirt, it would probably be a different story."

The 2011 Kentucky Derby winner and champion three-year-old from last year has been working at Palm Meadows Training Center near Gulfstream Park.

"This horse is just on 'go,'" Irwin said. "He is relishing his work, he's happy to be out there, and he just loves to run. And he doesn't seem to be getting that tired."

The Tampa Bay Stakes will be the colt's first start since suffering a hairline fracture during the running of the Belmont Stakes. Prior to that he was second in the Preakness Stakes in addition to taking the Run for the Roses.

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Marlins could start season without No. 2 starter Johnson

JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.

Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.

MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .

''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.''

Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain.

He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday.

''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.''

Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia.

Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind.

With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.

Additional basbeall odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

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