El Kabeir Adds the Gotham to his Win List

 

El Kabeir showed a new dimension when he had to come from far behind to win the $400,000 Gotham Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct. With the victory, the Zayat Stables runner added another 50 Kentucky Derby 2015 qualifying points to his now leading total of 75.

It was a bit of redemption for El Kabeir after he finished second as the favorite in the Withers last month when beaten by the come from behind effort of Far From Over. Today, it was El Kabeir who was near the back of the pack, in ninth place, twelve lengths behind after the first quarter mile of the race. That was a place where he had not previously been during a race. Veteran jockey C. C. Lopez was not phased by the start, instead he guided El Kabeir to rail and waited to move outside around the turn.

Lopez described his winning ride, “He broke good, those horses broke better and showed more gas, so then he got quickly shuffled back going into the turn. I just tried not to panic; I was riding the best horse in the race. He was much easier behind horses to throttle the speed back and when I called on him going to the half-mile pole I was able to sneak through on the fence and angle him out going to the three-eighths pole. From there, when he changed leads turning for home, he just exploded. So I'm not worried about the distance any more.”

With El Kabeir now guaranteed a spot in the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby, there is finally the chance that Lopez could make his first appearance in the Run for the Roses. Lopez prefers not to think about that possibility just yet, “I’ve been taking it race by race, figuring that at some point they are going to want to take me off or I’ll get replaced. I’ve been riding him like it’s the last time I’m going to ride him. Hopefully I’ll get to ride him in the Wood. I’m still doing it that way ‘cause I don’t want to get my heart broken. I’d be happy to win the Wood with him that’s for sure.”

The early pace was fast as Toasting Master and Blame Jim battled head to head for the first six furlongs in :23.00, :46.63, 1:12.01. Two lengths behind Tiz Shea D and Uninfluenced were running in tandem. Turning for home El Kabeir stormed to front on the outside and Tiz Shea D ran through tight quarters along the rail to get second place.

El Kabeir was sent of as the 1.30-1 betting favorite and returned $4.60 to win. Tiz Shea D, who came into the race off a Parx maiden win, paid $8.00 to place. The winning $2 exacta returned $38.20.