THE DAY AT THE RACES

Animal Kingdom put Turfway Park’s Spiral Stakes on the map last year, using it as his final prep race before taking the Kentucky Derby.

This afternoon a field of 12 will go to post in the $500,000 Grade III contest featuring another horse trained by Graham Motion named Went the Day Well, who might end up in the starting gate for the May 5 Derby.

“Just because we won it last year, I don’t think we’re any more pushing to get there,” said the 47-year-old Motion. “If anything, it makes it easier because having won that race — which I never imagined I would do at this stage of my career — maybe I’m a little less (anxious). I want to be there for the right reasons. I just don’t want to get carried away trying to get back there. I don’t want to change my philosophy. Last year, we were adamant that the horses had to get us there, and Animal Kingdom took us there. The horses will have to show us they belong.”

Went the Day Well is coming off just a maiden victory over the dirt track at Gulfstream Park, and now is trying the Polytrack at Turfway for the first time.

Motion reported that Animal Kingdom is recovering from a stress fracture in his left pelvis area that forced him to miss the March 31 Dubai World Cup.

“It’s quite a common injury and something he should get over, but it doesn’t make it any less disappointing when you come this far, and he came out of his (prep) race so good,” Motion said.

The Spiral Stakes (race 10) is scheduled to go off at 5:45 p.m. and my selections are Mr. Prankster, Handsome Mike and Went the Day Well.

REFUND: The New York Racing Association finally made good to horseplayers who were victimized by the extra percentage point in takeout that went on for 15 months on certain exotic wagers before NYRA realized its error on Dec. 18. On Friday, the NYRA credited a total amount of $437,715.94 to people who wagered through the NYRA Rewards account and on Monday, NYRA will be sending out $156,791.80 in checks to those who had winning W2 forms.

n Hot- riding David Cohen brought home two more winners on Friday and now has seven since the main track opened on Wednesday.

n Grass racing returns to Aqueduct on Wednesday when two turf races will be offered — the fourth and the ninth races — both $20,000 claimers with a $36,000 purse.