El Areeb Works Sharp Half-Mile at Laurel

Coady Photography

The promising Kentucky Derby contender El Areeb, whose next start is currently up in the air, signaled that he is continuing to thrive when he breezed a half-mile in a rapid :47.80 on February 18th at Laurel Park.

The son of Exchange Rate is riding a four-race win streak that includes easy wins in the Jerome Stakes (gr. III) and Withers Stakes (gr. III), both at Aqueduct. Trainer Cathal Lynch has been contemplating the possibility of waiting until April before running El Areeb again, but has left open the possibility that El Areeb could start in the $300,000 Gotham Stakes (gr. III) on March 4th at Aqueduct.

Judging from the speed of El Areeb’s workout (the second-fastest of 37 morning works at that distance) and the effortless way that he achieved it, it would come as no surprise if El Areeb turns up in the entries for the Gotham. A decision regarding his next race is expected to be made soon.

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