M M G Stables' El Areeb (Exchange Rate) will make his next start in the GIII Gotham S. at Aqueduct Mar. 4 instead of awaiting the final round of Triple Crown prep races in early April, trainer Cathal Lynch reported Wednesday.
The 'TDN Rising Star' has registered daylight victories in the GIII Jerome S. and GIII Withers S. in his first two appearances this season, but it appeared that connections were going to give the colt extra time and focus on races like the GII Toyota Blue Grass S. or the GII Wood Memorial S.
“I wanted to make sure and give him the time coming out of the last race just to make sure everything was OK,” Lynch said. “I spoke to the bosses this morning and told them I was comfortable that the horse was doing really well, so I didn't see any reason not to go ahead and take a run at the Gotham.”
Lynch added, ““There's a few less variables for us going [to Aqueduct],” Lynch said. “Knowing that your horse likes the inner track is definitely an advantage. That can be a quirky track sometimes; some horses handle it and some don't. We've been lucky this year; most of our guys seem to like it up there so we'll go back again.”
In his first workout since his Withers success, El Areeb breezed a half-mile in :47.70 (video) over the Laurel Park main track Feb. 18.
“The horse came out of his work really good. He'll have one more work and then we'll go to the Gotham,” Lynch said. “We're still going race by race. We've got no plans beyond this one race.”
El Areeb is scheduled to have his final pre-Gotham work this weekend at Laurel. Regular rider Trevor McCarthy will be in the irons.
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