El Kabeir gets in half-mile workout despite weather concerns

ELMONT, N.Y. – El Kabeir, who is attempting to take New York’s pot-hole-laden road to the Kentucky Derby, squeezed in a half-mile workout Sunday morning at Belmont Park and remains on course for a start March 7 in the Grade 3, $400,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct.

Working over a harrowed Belmont training track shortly after 9:30 a.m. El Kabeir went four furlongs in 49 seconds, according to Daily Racing Form. El Kabeir started about five lengths behind stablemate Finding Candy and went his first quarter in 24.60 seconds. After drawing on even terms with Finding Candy in upper stretch, El Kabeir eased past his workmate going a final quarter in 24.40 and finished about three lengths in front at the wire. El Kabeir galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.48.

“Right now, we’re on schedule. He seems to be doing really well,” Terranova said. “We’ll see how he comes back and works off of this and go from there. But right now, things look good.”

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After a storm that brought about three inches of snow to the area Saturday, trainer John Terranova figured he would have to push El Kabeir’s breeze back a day or two. The Belmont training track was sealed for the early part of Sunday morning training, but when track officials notified horsemen that the track would be harrowed at the second renovation break, Terranova decided to breeze.

The plan was to have El Kabeir sit right off of Finding Candy, but Finding Candy broke off about five lengths in front, and exercise rider Simon Harris sat chilly on El Kabeir.

“It was the kind of work we were looking for regardless,” Terranova said. “Maybe it was a little further back than we were expecting, but Simon gauges it as it’s unfolding. He was locked on, but very nice, very kind, had him in his sights and just cruised up to him. To me, it looked like he did it really easy, and Simon felt the same. Had a ton of horse. That’s all we were looking to do, something like that, make sure everything’s good mentally. He seems real focused and continues to do really well.”

The work was the first for El Kabeir since he finished second, 1 3/4 lengths behind Far From Over, in the Grade 3 Withers on Feb. 7. Prior to that, El Kabeir had recorded wins in the Grade 3 Jerome and Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club.

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Terranova acknowledged the winter weather has made for a less-than-consistent training schedule. However, with El Kabeir already having made seven starts, Terranova is not concerned.

“Pretty much, we managed to stay right on schedule considering [the weather],” Terranova said. “We’ve had light days in between, but we don’t do a lot in between works anyway. He’s run plenty of times now.”

Terranova said he plans to work El Kabeir once more – hopefully next Sunday – before the Gotham. He also said C.C. Lopez, aboard for El Kabeir’s last two starts, will ride him again in the Gotham.