El Kabeir Fires Bullet Work at Belmont
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Zayat Stables' El Kabeir had his final tune-up for the $1 million TwinSpires.com Wood Memorial (gr. I) March 30, breezing five furlongs on the Belmont Park training track in 1:01.12, the second-fastest of 28 works at the distance.
With exercise rider Simon Harris aboard, El Kabeir went out shortly after the second renovation break at 9:30 a.m. ET. Trainer John Terranova caught the gray son of Scat Daddy going the first quarter in :25 and change and coming home in :35 3/5.
"The clockers got him galloping out in 1:13 3/5, just as easy as can be," added Terranova. "He went great, great. We were really happy. It went perfect, just as we were hoping. He came out great and is cooling out really well."
JOHNSON: Terranovas Seek Derby Success With El Kabeir
p>El Kabeir won the Gotham Stakes (gr. III) by 2 3/4 lengths March 7 at Aqueduct Racetrack and the Jerome Stakes (gr. III) by 4 3/4 lengths Jan. 3. Those outings bookend a runner-up finish to Far From Over in the Withers Stakes (gr. II) Feb. 7.
Among those expected to face El Kabeir in Aqueduct's 1 1/8-mile Wood Memorial, New York's final major prep for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), are the fourth- and fifth-place finishers from the Gotham, West Point Thoroughbreds' Toasting Master and Phil Birsch's Tencendur, along with Godolphin Racing's Frosted, most recently fourth in the Fountain of Youth (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park.
Also running will be the Todd Pletcher-trained duo of Far From Over, who returned to Palm Meadows Training Center after the Withers, and last year's Champagne (gr. I) victor, Daredevil, who went a half in :48.85 on Saturday at Belmont.
Far From Over and Kiaran McLaughlin-trained Frosted will be flown from Florida to New York on Thursday.
McLaughlin said Monday morning that Sam F. Davis Stakes winner Ocean Knight, who had been under consideration for the Wood, would not make the trip after working 1:00.97 at Palm Meadows.