El Areeb starts preparation for Wood Memorial

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – El Areeb returned to the work tab in Maryland on Friday, and it looks like he’ll be returning to New York in three weeks for the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial on April 8 at Aqueduct, according to trainer Cal Lynch.

“He’s got a couple of more works before we know for sure, but that’s the plan,” Lynch said Friday by phone from Laurel.

El Areeb, third as the favorite in the Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham on March 4, went a half-mile in 51.40 seconds at Laurel at the end of a longer, fast-paced gallop. He went in company with the 4-year-old filly Winter, a winner of two straight stakes at Laurel. A video of the work provided by the Laurel publicity staff showed that El Areeb, on the outside under Charlie Lynch, finished a short head in front at the wire.

Lynch said he gave El Areeb some company because he wanted a decent work out of El Areeb for his first move since the Gotham. Winter is expected to make her next start in the Grade 3, $200,000 Top Flight Invitational at Aqueduct on April 2.

“They ended up going a little stronger at the end than they were supposed to, but that’s kind of what we wanted, so all good,” Lynch said. “We’re happy with him.”

EL Areeb had a four-race winning streak snapped in the Gotham. He had won the Grade 3 Jerome in January and the Grade 3 Withers in February in such easy fashion that he was sent off as the 2-5 favorite in the Gotham. In the Gotham, El Areeb got caught up in a speed duel with True Timber and faded to third, beaten 11 lengths by winner J Boys Echo.

“I don’t think it was any more than just the pace scenario screwed us more than anything,” Lynch said. “Things happen for a reason. It keeps everybody on their toes. Don’t take anything for granted.

“No matter how easy they win their races, it takes something out of them. He still has to run 90-something Beyers every time to win those races. He made it look easy, but it takes a toll on a young horse.”

Lynch is expected to work El Areeb every six days, which would give him enough time to get three more works into the colt if he so chooses.

Meanwhile, Winter will put a three-race winning streak on the line in the Top Flight, run at 1 1/8 miles over the main track April 2. In her last two starts, she won the Nellie Morse Stakes and the Maryland Racing Media, both at 1 1/16 miles at Laurel.

“I think she’ll like the mile and an eighth – she’s a bit of grinder,” Lynch said. “I’m not saying it’s not going to be a big jump for her, but we don’t have a lot of options down here until Pimlico.”