El Kabeir Breezes for Gotham

Multiple graded stakes winner El Kabeir, most recently second in the Withers (gr. II), had his final serious work March 1 at Belmont Park for the $400,000 Gotham (gr. III) March 7 at Aqueduct Racetrack. 

 

The son of Scat Daddy   breezed a half-mile in :50.10 over Belmont's training track. The time ranked 41st of 116 moves at the distance.

 

With exercise rider Simon Harris aboard, the Zayat Stables color-bearer broke off about five lengths behind Finding Candy, was tipped to the outside at the sixteenth pole, and hit the wire two lengths in front of his stablemate.

 

Trainer John Terranova caught El Kabeir galloping out in 1:02 and change and up 1:15 3/5.

 

"He's doing great," Terranova said of El Kabeir, who closed out his juvenile year with a narrow victory over Imperia in the Kentucky Jockey Cup (gr. II) at Churchill Downs and launched his 2015 campaign with a 4 3/4-length win the Jerome (gr. II) over Aqueduct's inner track. He subsequently finished 1 3/4 lengths behind Far From Over in the Withers Feb. 7.

 

"Today was just to see how sharp he is." Terranova said. "He's been training really, really well every day. We wanted to keep him mentally sharp and focused. He likes to run around the turns, so the gallop out is always strong for him, so that was nice to see.

 

"We've been lucky in the fact we've gotten several races under him so far. He's got a great foundation, so fitness is not a problem or an issue. We've had a couple of light days in between, but we never want to force anything. We just wait for the track and him to tell us. Hopefully we'll be good the next few weeks. So far this week, it looks like he's coming into this race really well."

 

Also working at Belmont for possible starts in Saturday's 1 1/16-mile Gotham was the fourth-place finisher in the Withers, Tencendur, who went five furlongs in 1:01 2/5 for trainer George Weaver, and the Gary Contessa-trained Combat Diver, the runner-up in the  Miracle Wood Stakes at Laurel Park. He covered five furlongs in 1:03 4/5.

 

Also expected for the Gotham are Ocean Knight, Blame Jim, Classy Class, Dontbetwithbruno, and Lieutenant Colonel. Withers winner Far From Over remains under consideration for either the Gotham or the TwinSpires.com Wood Memorial (gr. I), said trainer Todd Pletcher.

 

The Gotham is worth 50 points under the "Road to the Kentucky Derby" qualifying system.