El Kabeir works toward Withers in between storms

ELMONT, N.Y. - Dodging one storm that canceled training here Saturday and avoiding a second storm that will likely cancel training here on Tuesday, El Kabeir managed to get in an important five-furlong workout Sunday morning in preparation for the Grade 3 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct on Feb. 7.

Working shortly after 9:30 a.m. on a freshly harrowed Belmont Park training track that would likely be termed “good,” El Kabeir breezed a solid five furlongs in 1:01.47, getting his final quarter in 23.72 seconds. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.86 under exercise rider Simon Harris.

El Kabeir went off in easy fractions Sunday of 13.47 seconds for the first eighth and 26.11 for the opening quarter.

“We were just looking for a nice steady work and getting him to go off slow again and finish,” said Tonja Terranova, assistant trainer to her husband, John. “He’s doing everything right. He’s very relaxed in the morning galloping beautiful and he seems to have really put on a lot of weight and muscle and we couldn’t be happier.”

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El Kabeir established himself as a leading candidate for the Kentucky Derby by winning the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs to end his 2-year-old season and the Grade 3 Jerome Stakes three weeks ago to begin his 3-year-old season.

Sunday’s move was his second workout since the Jerome and he will likely have one more before the Withers. Terranova said El Kabeir has been able to maintain a rather consistent training schedule despite inconsistent winter weather.

“They did a great job on the track today because [Saturday] afternoon it was pretty wet so we were lucky,” Terranova said. “We know we have a fit horse too and if it worked out that we had to postpone it to the weekend we could have done that as well. He’s a dead-fit horse. We’re just keeping him happy.”