David Grening's top 3-year-olds at Aqueduct on March 23

El Kabeir has not only survived, but according to his connections thrived this winter in New York. When I saw him on the track Sunday at Belmont, he looked like he put on some weight since the Gotham, a fact confirmed by assistant trainer Tonja Terranova. He will get a chance to avenge his loss to Far From Over in the Withers when those two meet in the Wood Memorial. Daredevil, a stablemate of Far From Over, also was confirmed for the Wood by his connections over the weekend as well as Remsen and Holy Bull runner-up Frosted.

3-year-old males

1. EL KABEIR
Pedigree: Scat Daddy-Great Venue, by Unbridled’s Song
Trainer: John Terranova
Last race: 1st in Gotham on March 7 at Aqueduct
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 89/95
Target race: Wood Memorial, April 4, at Aqueduct
COMMENT: Got back to work Sunday at Belmont and looked very good in a five-furlong workout that DRF timed in 59.97 seconds. He continues to relax and wait for his cues. The 1 1/8 miles and some better competition will be in play in the Wood.

2. FAR FROM OVER
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Pedigree: Blame-Alchemist, by A.P. Indy
Last race: 1st in Withers on Feb. 7 at Aqueduct
Last Beyer: Best Beyer 96/96
Target race: Wood Memorial, April 4, at Aqueduct
COMMENT: Worked five furlongs in 1:01.76 on Saturday morning at Palm Beach Downs and remains on target for the Wood. Will be interested to see if he can confirm his Withers performance in the Wood, in what will be just his third lifetime start.

:: TOP 3-YEAR-OLDS: Fair Grounds | Gulfstream | Oaklawn

3. CLASSY CLASS
Pedigree: Discreetly Mine-Collegiate, by Saarland
Trainer: Kiaran McLaughlin
Last race: 3rd in Gotham on March 7 at Aqueduct
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 84/91
Target race: Wood Memorial, April 4, at Aqueduct or Blue Grass, April 4, Keeneland.
COMMENT: Got back to work with an easy half-mile in 50 seconds last Friday at Belmont. McLaughlin said he will talk to owner Everett Dobson before deciding whether to run in the Wood or Blue Grass.

:: ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays

4. TIZ SHEA D
Pedigree: Tiznow-Ender’s Sister, by A.P. Indy
Last race: 2nd Gotham at Aqueduct on March 7
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 84/84
Target race: Undecided
COMMENT: Listening to Bill Mott on Sunday, it sounds like he’d prefer to skip the Derby preps and run this lightly raced horse in the Illinois Derby on April 18 and see if that performance warrants a look at the Preakness. Though the Gotham field was weak, for him to go from a 5 1/2-furlong win at Parx Racing to a runner-up finish in the 1 1/16-mile Gotham is a sign there’s some quality here.

5. TENCENDUR
Trainer: George Weaver
Pedigree: Warrior’s Reward-Still a Secret, by Hennessy
Last race: 5th Gotham at Aqueduct on March 7
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 83/89
Target race: Wood Memorial, April 4, at Aqueduct
COMMENT: Was only beaten 3 3/4 lengths in the Gotham with a bit of a wide trip. Still has issues with his lead changes. Will get a rider change to Jose Ortiz for the Wood.

:: DERBY WATCH: Top 20 from Jay Privman and Mike Watchmaker

3-year-old fillies

1. CONDO COMMANDO
Trainer: Rudy Rodriguez
Pedigree: Tiz Wonderful-Yearly Report, by General Meeting
Last race: 1st in Busher on Feb. 21
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 90/96
Target race: Gazelle, April 4, at Aqueduct
COMMENT: Remains on target for the Gazelle after working five furlongs in 1:01.21 on March 16. Should move forward after her victory in the Busher, which was the perfect comeback race for this multiple graded stakes winner.

2. WONDER GAL
Trainer: Leah Gyarmati
Pedigree: Tiz Wonderful-Passe, by Dixie Union
Last race: 3rd in Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 1 at Santa Anita
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 81/81
Target race: Gazelle, April 4, at Aqueduct
COMMENT: Mother Nature forced the cancellation of last Friday’s card, thus postponing her return by two weeks. Instead of having one six-furlong race under her belt, Wonder Gal will go into the 1 1/8-mile Gazelle off a string of workouts and having not raced in five months.

3. NOBLE AND A BEAUTY
Trainer: Rick Violette
Pedigree: Noble Causeway-Overandabeauty, by Grand Slam
Last race: 1st Cicada Stakes, March 15, at Aqueduct
Last Beyer/Best Beyer: 80/80
Target race: Undecided
COMMENT: Dominant eight-length winner of Cicada Stakes at six furlongs will get the opportunity to stretch out in her next start. She is nominated to the Grade 3 Gazelle at 1 1/8 miles on April 4, but might be a tall order going from six furlongs to 1 1/8 miles against Condo Commando. Filly could be a player in the one-turn races at Belmont this spring/summer.