New Yorkers Invade for Kentucky Jockey Club Exacta

El Kabeir and Imperia left New York in search of a dry track and found it in Kentucky. El Kabeir didn’t bother to pack the blinkers and took full advantage of Churchill’s top jock Calvin Borel. Borel gave the pretty gray colt his trade-mark rail skimming ride through lively fractions of :23.62, :47.50, 1:12.48 and 1:38.00. Sky Hero tracked almost three lengths back in second while Lucky Player sat third. 

 

Whipping around the far turn, El Kabeir set his sights on the wire.  Meanwhile, Imperia closed from nine lengths off of the pace, went wide on the turn and took aim on El Kabeir, while gaining with every stride. In the end, El Kabeir held of Robby Albarado and Imperia by a desperate head. Eagle flew from off of the pace to finish third. 

 

"At the finish I knew it was getting tight because he had never been this far and the track is a little heavy," said Borel. "With everything put together it was a matter of who could out grind the other one. I think he did. It was the first time going this far. Truly, after this race it'll tighten him up real good." 

 

El Kabeir hit the wire in a final time of 1:44.82, about a half second faster than the 1:45.52 time of West Coast Belle recorded in the Golden Rod earlier on the card.  El Kabeir rewarded his backers with $16.60 to win. Imperia paid $4.60 to place and Eagle offered $5.60 to show.

 

Trained by John Terranova, El Kabeir (Scat Daddy - Great Venue, by Unbridled's Song) was bred by Rustlewood Farm, Inc. and sold for $250K at the OBS August yearling sales to Zayat Stables. He extended his career record to 5-2-1-1 and earned ten points in the Kentucky Derby points system.

 

Previously, El Kabeir finished a distant second to Blofeld in the Nashua (G-2) over a muddy track. El Kabeir will aim to beat the Kentucky Derby second place finishes of Pioneerof the Nile, Bodemeister and Nehro.