Jerry Bossert 9y

El Kabeir tops Gotham Stakes

Horse Racing

Zayat Stables' El Kabeir looms the one to beat in the $400,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack March 7.

The 3-year-old colt by Scat Daddy hasn't finished worse than second in his last four starts, taking the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs Nov. 29 and the Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct Jan. 3.

In his last start, El Kabeir was run down late when second best as the odds-on favorite in the Withers Stakes at Aqueduct Feb. 7.

"He's doing great," trainer John Terranova said. "We've been lucky in the fact we've gotten several races under him so far. He's got a great foundation, so fitness is not a problem or an issue. We've had a couple of light days in between, but we never want to force anything. We just wait for the track and him to tell us. Hopefully we'll be good the next few weeks. So far this week, it looks like he's coming into this race really well."

The 1-1/16-mile Gotham offers the winner 50 qualifying points as part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby system, with the second- through fourth-place finishers receiving 20, 10 and 5, respectively.

El Kabeir currently sits in fourth on the leaderboard with 25 points and will be ridden again by C.C. Lopez. The grey colt will carry the highweight of 123 pounds, was made the 8-5 morning-favorite, and will break from post four in the 10-horse field.

Finishing just a length behind El Kabeir in the Withers Stakes was Cheyenne Stables' Classy Class, who enters the Gotham with just a maiden win in three starts.

The Withers was his first start since finishing fourth in the Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct Nov 29.

"We thought [Classy Class] ran very well in the Withers," trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. "El Kabeir challenged him a lot earlier than we were expecting and he ran on well. [In the Gotham], we'd prefer to see him come from off the pace. He doesn't need to be on the lead."

Classy Class broke his maiden impressively in his debut Oct. 25 at Belmont Park, drawing off to win by four lengths, but has yet to win going two turns.

"Obviously, we always have the option of turning him back [in distance]," McLaughlin said. "We think he's a two-turn horse, but if it doesn't work out, he showed in his debut he's a talented sprinter."

Classy Class will break from post 3 under jockey Junior Alvarado and was made the 7-2 second-choice.

Trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Mike Repole teamed up to take the 2011 Gotham Stakes with Stay Thirsty and will send out a three-horse entry in this year's edition led by stretch-out sprinter Blame Jim.

Blame Jim broke his maiden in his debut July 19 at Saratoga, before finishing second in his return at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 8 in an allowance race.

The Pletcher-Repole entry also includes maiden winner Dontbetwithbruno and the maiden Uninfluenced, who were made 5-1 on the morning line.

The Gotham is part of a 10-race card at Aqueduct Saturday, which also features the running of the $200,000 Tom Fool Handicap.

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