El Kabeir Leads the Way in $200,000 Withers Stakes

El Kabeir, the 8/5 morning line favorite will break from post 7 under jockey CC Lopez.  The grey son of Scat Daddy has won three of six career starts including back to back stakes wins in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes and Grade 3 Jerome Stakes in his last two outs.  El Kabeir was particularly impressive winning the Jerome after overcoming a poor start to rally from off-the-pace to win with ease.  The race showed the colt’s versatility after a front-running score in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes.  Trained by John Terranova, El Kabeir should add to his Kentucky Derby credentials in the Withers – a race that awards points on a 10-4-2-1 scale to the first through fourth place finishers. 

Well-regarded runner tries stakes foes again

2/1 second choice Classy Class will try to live up to his name as he searches for his first stakes win.  The lightly-raced colt has made just two career starts, winning a maiden special weight race at Belmont Park October 25 before finishing fourth against stakes foes in the Grade 2 Remsen November 29.  Idle so far in 2015, the Kiaran McLaughlin trainee could be any kind, and has apparently won the confidence of a successful barn. 

Sharp maiden winner skips conditions 

5/1 shot Far From Over gives away even more on the experience end, having made just one start resulting in a maiden special weight victory December 12 at Aqueduct.  The Todd Pletcher trainee is a son of 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Blame.