El Areeb has plenty of gas left in tank for Withers

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – El Areeb, the dominant winner of the Grade 3 Jerome Stakes here on Jan. 2, was credited with a half-mile move in 50 seconds Friday at Laurel as he continues training toward the Grade 3, $250,000 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct on Feb. 4.

According to trainer Cal Lynch, El Areeb’s work came at the end of a 1 1/8-mile gallop that was done at a two-minute clip – each eighth of a mile in 15 seconds – before he picked it up at the end.

“He did everything we asked him to do,” Lynch said by phone from Laurel. “First work since the race, we didn’t want to get crazy. He’s full of himself. We’re very pleased.”

Lynch said that El Areeb “told us 20 minutes after the race he was good to go.”

Lynch was concerned about the slow time of the Jerome – the mile and 70 yards went in 1:46.17 – but the track yielded slow times all day, and he did win by 11 1/4 lengths.

“He’s got to improve and keep going the way he’s going,” Lynch said. “We’re hoping for better, numbers-wise. We’ll hope for a faster, quicker track.”

Lynch said the fact that El Areeb ran six furlongs in 1:09.96 in winning the James F. Lewis Stakes at Laurel last Nov. 19 shows “he’s fast if he has to be.”

Lynch said El Areeb would have a faster workout next Wednesday or Thursday and then likely one more work prior to the Withers.