El Kabeir looks to make it three straight in Withers

Last updated: 2/4/15 5:27 PM

El Kabeir finished full of
run in the Jerome
(Adam Coglianese Photography)

With victories in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) and Jerome (G3), El Kabeir
(Scat Daddy) vaulted to the top of the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with a total
of 21 points. He’ll try to add 10 more points to his ledger with a victory in
Saturday’s $250,000
Withers (G3)
at Aqueduct.

Owned by Zayat Stables LLC and trained by John Terranova, El Kabeir rolled to
a 10-length victory when breaking his maiden second-time out. The gray colt
followed with a fourth in the Champagne (G1) and a second in the Nashua (G2)
before earning his first stakes tally in the November 29 Kentucky Jockey Club at
Churchill Downs, leading wire to wire for a head decision.

El Kabeir displayed a different dimension in the January 3 Jerome on
Aqueduct’s inner track, rallying wide from just off the pace to win going away
by 4 3/4 lengths, and registered a career-best 101 BRIS Speed rating. He’ll be a
strong favorite to carry his form forward in this spot. The Florida-bred will
break from the far outside post among seven rivals with a returning C.C. Lopez.

His six challengers are all maiden winners. Classy Class (Discreetly Mine) is
one of two with stakes experience, finishing fourth in the Remsen (G2) in his
juvenile finale, and the bay colt will be making his third career start for
Kiaran McLaughlin. Jerome third-placer General Bellamy (Bellamy Road) is back
for another shot against El Kabeir and the dark bay colt will add first-time
Lasix for Bill Mott.

Unrivaled (Super Saver) steps up following a 15-length maiden romp at Parx
Racing on December 23 and will be joined in the Withers field by fellow last-out
maiden scorers March (Blame), Far from Over (Blame) and Tencendur (Warrior’s
Reward).

The Withers is accompanied on the nine-race program by the $150,000
Toboggan
(G3), a six-furlong test for older horses, and Salutos Amigos (Salute the
Sarge) is the horse to beat.

The five-year-old gelding has posted convincing stakes wins in three of his
last four outings, the lone setback being a fast-finishing seventh in the
Breeders’ Cup Sprint. He recorded a 110 BRIS Speed rating when capturing the
Fall Highweight (G3) two starts back and a 109 when taking the December 26
Gravesend last time out. Irad Ortiz Jr. rides for David Jacobson.

Fall Highweight and Gravesend runner-up Mewannarose (Bwana Charlie) is also
entered along with Grade 1 winner Dads Caps (Discreet Cat).

Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com