Maturing El Kabeir Makes Statement in Jerome

El Kabeir dominated the opposition in the Grade 3 Jerome Stakes on Saturday at Aqueduct. (Photo by Joe Labozzetta/NYRA)
In team sports, analysts and fans often refer to outstanding performances as statement games. El Kabeir delivered horse racing’s version of a statement race on Saturday at Aqueduct in the Grade 3 Jerome Stakes.
The gray or roan colt by Scat Daddy raced just off the early pace and dispatched both stakes-winning pacesetter Ostrolenka and highly regarded Nasa at the top of the stretch en route to a 4 3/4-length runaway win.
He improved to three wins in six career starts and moved to the top of the Road to the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard with 21 points, including 10 points for winning the $200,000 Jerome Stakes.
El Kabeir entered the Jerome off a hard-fought, front-running victory by a head in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs on Nov. 29. In fact, both of his previous victories had come when he led from start to finish.
Ridden by C.C. Lopez, El Kabeir broke alertly but rated in fourth then third through an opening quarter-mile in :23.79. Still third after an easy half-mile in :48.47, El Kabeir advanced approaching the final turn and drew alongside Nasa, who raced just outside of pacesetter Ostrolenka.
El Kabeir surged away from his challengers entering the stretch and powered to a dominant win for trainer John Terranova.
“They were all getting pretty aggressive early inside of him, but I loved the way he relaxed out there,” Terranova said. “C.C. didn’t panic.”
Jeff Seder’s and Patti Miller’s EQB Inc. purchased El Kabeir at the 2013 OBS August sale of selected yearlings for $250,000 on behalf of current owner Zayat Stables.
After finishing a distant fourth in the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes in October at Belmont Park in his stakes debut and third career start, El Kabeir has emerged as a promising 2015 Kentucky Derby hopeful. He finished second in the Grade 2 Nashua Stakes before earning his first stakes win in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes. His 2015 debut in the Jerome confirmed that El Kabeir in progressing into a formidable contender on the Derby trail.
EL KABEIR

Photo by NYRA
In a profile of El Kabeir that ran on Dec. 1, I suggested that my biggest concern was whether he could run a top race without leading from start to finish. Given that it is extremely difficult to set the pace and win the 1 ¼-mile Kentucky Derby, which usually features plenty of speed, the ability to race just off the pace and take aim on the leaders entering the stretch is extremely beneficial. El Kabeir showed that ability in the Jerome, and it figures to be a big asset as the races get longer and more difficult on the road to Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May.
“We’ve been training him like that. He sat off a workmate and he’s relaxed beautifully in the morning — push-button. We were just waiting to see it happen in the afternoon,” Terranova said. “His maturity level is [improving by] leaps and bounds, race to race, and he’s really going the right way.
“That’s the whole key with these young, fast 3-year-olds, is if they're going to be able to relax enough to stretch out and carry it. He’s certainly bred to, and he trains like he should. We’ll see; hopefully he’ll keep progressing. He’s gotten bigger and more filled out since the Kentucky race. He’s eating like there’s no tomorrow.”
From the fourth crop of 2007 Florida Derby victor Scat Daddy, El Kabeir was bred in Florida by Rustlewood Farm. He is the first starter produced by the unraced Unbridled’s Song mare Great Venue, who is a half-sister (same dam [mother], different sire [father]) to multiple graded stakes-winning sprinter Too Much Bling as well as stakes winners Ready for Roses and Barnsy, the former a stakes winner at 1 ¼ miles and the latter a stakes winner at 1 1/8 miles.
For an Equibase chart, click here.