El Kabeir will take on field of maiden winners in Withers

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Six maiden winners will take on the multiple graded stakes winner El Kabeir in Saturday’s Grade 3, $250,000 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct.

The Withers, run at 1 1/16 miles over the inner track, is the second of four races on this circuit for 3-year-olds who aspire to make it to the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 2.

El Kabeir, trained by John Terranova for Zayat Stables, won last month’s Grade 3 Jerome by 4 3/4 lengths here and will likely be an odds-on favorite Saturday.

The top four finishers in the Withers earn qualifying points toward the Kentucky Derby on a 10-4-2-1 basis. The point system is used by Churchill Downs in the likely event the Derby draws more than the maximum 20 entrants.

:: ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays

Among El Kabeir’s chief rivals is March, a son of Blame who won a mile-and-70-yard maiden race by a neck over the inner track Jan. 11. That performance was flattered when Dontbetwithbruno, the horse March defeated, came back to win a maiden race here last Sunday.

March, trained by Chad Brown for Robert LaPenta, lost his career debut sprinting when second to Ship Disturber over a speed-favoring Aqueduct main track on Cigar Mile day. That loss actually may have been a blessing for March.

“He got another chance to run against maidens and stretch out,” Brown said. “It was a good education. He’s got quite a bit of room to improve. We always liked him, and his first two starts, he ran well in both of them. Hopefully, he’ll take a step forward and be competitive in there.”

Jose Ortiz will ride March.

Others entered in the Withers were Classy Class, who finished fourth in the Grade 2 Remsen after winning his debut; General Bellamy, third in the Jerome, beaten 12 1/2 lengths by El Kabeir; and the last-out maiden winners Far From Over, Tencendur, and Unrivaled.

Dads Caps gets blinkers

Trying to return him to the form that made him a Grade 1 winner last April, trainer Rudy Rodriguez will equip Dads Caps with blinkers when the 5-year-old takes on Salutos Amigos and four others in Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Toboggan Stakes at Aqueduct.

Since winning the Grade 1 Carter over the main track last April, Dads Caps has been winless in six starts. He was beaten a neck when second to Private Zone in the Grade 1 Vosburgh at Belmont in September and most recently finished three lengths behind Salutos Amigos when third Dec. 26 in the Gravesend.

“When he won the Carter, he was on the lead, and they didn’t challenge him,” Rodriguez said Wednesday. “When he finished second at Belmont, he looked like he was hanging there. We’re trying something because we know he has the ability.”

Rodriguez said Dads Caps has worked a couple times with blinkers.

“He’s been working very, very good with the blinkers,” Rodriguez said. “He’s ready to go.”

Jose Ortiz was named to ride Dads Caps.

Ortiz’s brother, Irad Ortiz Jr., will ride Salutos Amigos, who has won three of his last four starts, including the Grade 3 Fall Highweight over the main track Nov. 27 and the Gravesend over the inner track.

David Jacobson, trainer and part owner of Salutos Amigos, has expressed an interest in taking Salutos Amigos to Dubai for the Golden Shaheen on March 28 but wants to see how he performs here first.

Others entered in the Toboggan were Mewannarose, second in both the Fall Highweight and Gravesend; Doubledown Again, a sharp allowance winner Dec. 10; Crafty Dreamer, the runner-up in the Hollie Hughes; and Green Gratto, beaten a neck in a second-level allowance last out.

West Hills Giant eyes next start

The New York-bred West Hills Giant has been nominated to several stakes on this circuit but is likely to make his next start Feb. 16 in the Grade 3, $250,000 General George Handicap at Laurel Park.

Trainer John Terranova said he prefers the seven-furlong distance of the General George to options at six furlongs or two-turn races at a mile and 1 1/16 miles available to him in New York.

“We’re toying with the idea of the General George,” Terranova said. “It’s a perfect distance for him and a good purse.”

West Hills Giant is only 1 for 10 on dirt and has not won since being placed first by the stewards in a turf stakes at Saratoga in August 2013.

In his last 10 starts, he has finished second or third six times, including a third-place finish in the Alex M. Robb at 1 1/16 miles Dec. 31.