El Deal set to return at Parx

The undefeated stakes-winning sprinter El Deal could return to the races within the next week, trainer Andrew Lakeman said.

Lakeman said there are races at Parx on Sunday and Monday for which El Deal is eligible. El Deal, a son of Munnings who has won all four of his starts, has not raced since winning the Gold Fever Stakes at Belmont last May 1. He was given time off due to bone remodeling of the ankles, Lakeman said.

On Sunday, El Deal worked five furlongs in 1:00.94, with a final quarter in 24.85 seconds, over the Belmont Park training track, his seventh breeze since rejoining Lakeman’s stable in February. On March 6, he breezed a half-mile in 47.47 seconds, the fastest of 113 works at the distance that day.

“He’s done everything right. Every single breeze has been perfect,” Lakeman said. “Last week, Jose [Ortiz] didn’t even move on him, and he went 47 and 2.”

Lakeman is hoping to get El Deal into graded company this year. If El Deal is able to run at Parx this weekend, that could set him up for the Diablo Stakes at Belmont on May 8 and then the Grade 2 True North, also at Belmont, on June 10.