El Areeb working toward winter return

Graded stakes winner El Areeb, who has missed the bulk of his 3-year-old season with a knee injury, has returned to the Laurel Park work tab for trainer Cal Lynch and is being prepared for a winter campaign.

El Areeb breezed three furlongs in 37.80 seconds Sept. 23 and then picked up the tempo last Saturday with a bullet three furlongs in 36.00.

“We gave him an easy three furlongs two weeks ago and then last week let him work a little,” Lynch said. “He probably went a little faster than we’d like, but he did it well.”

El Areeb, a $340,000 purchase as a 2-year-old in training by the M M G Stables of Mohammed Al-Gadhi, won three stakes in a row last fall and early this year. Following an 8 3/4-length maiden win at Laurel, he reeled off victories in the seven-furlong James F. Lewis III at Laurel and a pair of Grade 3 races at Aqueduct, the Jerome and Withers. His winning margins were 5 1/4 lengths, 11 1/4, and 4 1/4.

Following a third-place finish in the Gotham, El Areeb came out of a workout with a knee chip that required surgery. He recuperated on a Maryland farm and then was sent to Bruce Jackson at Fair Hill, where he built up his fitness on an Aquatred.

El Areeb rejoined Lynch’s barn a little more than a month ago.

“He’s come back every bit as good as he was,” Lynch said. “We’ve got our fingers crossed, and we’re very happy to have him back in the barn. Mohammed told us to take our time and let him get ready on his own schedule, not to rush him, and that’s what we’re doing.”

Being patient with El Areeb is no easy matter. The powerful son of Exchange Rate can be a handful.

“He’s already got me once on the back of the leg,” Lynch said. “He was just letting me know he was there. He’s gotten everyone in the barn at some time.”

The final 3-year-old stakes in the region is the Grade 3 Discovery, a 1 1/8-mile race Nov. 25 at Aqueduct, but Lynch said that race likely will come up too soon for El Areeb.

“That may be a little much first time back,” Lynch said. “He might start off in a seven-eighths race or a one-turn mile. He’ll be here over the winter with us, and there are some nice races for him in the region, here and in New York. Once we get him going, we certainly won’t be ducking anyone.”

Trevor McCarthy, who has ridden El Areeb in all seven of his starts, also is rehabbing from injury. He needed surgery after dislocating his shoulder in a May 21 spill at Monmouth but could be back in the saddle by December.

“Trevor’s doing well,” Lynch said. “When we’re up to five-eighths with El Areeb, maybe he’ll be ready to work him.”

◗ Laurel will move to a four-day race week this weekend by adding Monday racing. The Friday-to-Monday schedule will remain in place for the rest of the year except for Thanksgiving week – when racing will be held Thursday to Sunday – and on Monday, Dec. 25.