El Areeb in ‘Good Form’ Following G3 Gotham Defeat; Rainbow 6, Super Hi-5 Carryovers for Return of Live Racing Friday
El Areeb in ‘Good Form’ Following G3 Gotham Defeat; Rainbow 6, Super Hi-5 Carryovers for Return of Live Racing Friday
Students On Track Initiative at Laurel Saturday Well Received
Rainbow 6, Super Hi-5 Carryovers for Return of Live Racing Friday
Post Time Moves to 1:10 P.M. Sunday March 12
LAUREL, MD – M M G Stables’ multiple Grade 3 winner El Areeb returned early Sunday morning to Laurel Park after having his four-race win streak snapped when third as the 2-5 favorite in Saturday’s Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct.
Trainer Cal Lynch reported the 3-year-old Exchange Rate colt was doing well following the Gotham, where he was beaten 11 lengths by J Boys Echo after dueling early with 13-1 long shot True Timber.
“He came back out of the race great and ate up,” Lynch said. “We got back at 12:30 [a.m.] and we came in this morning at 4:30 and he already had his dinner cleaned up and was in there biting and squealing and playing away. He’s in good form. Everything’s good.”
With regular rider Trevor McCarthy aboard, El Areeb was in front through a quarter-mile in 23.58 seconds, a half in 47.70 and six furlongs in 1:13.59 while pressed by True Timber, second to El Areeb by 4 ½ lengths in the Withers (G3) Feb. 4.
J Boys Echo swept past the early leaders on the far outside approaching the stretch and drew off to win by 3 ½ lengths over Cloud Commuting. El Areeb picked up another 10 qualifying points toward the Kentucky Derby (G1) and now ranks sixth with 30 points.
“He got bumped around a little bit in the stretch. I was hoping if he was second we’d have enough points for sure, but 30 may still get him in. Thank God everything is all right and he’s no worse for wear,” Lynch said. “It’s a little unfortunate, we kind of got into a pace duel early. Pace makes the race, and it kind of cost us.
“Everything’s still open for him,” he added. “It’s wide open. There’s a bunch of horses coming and going, new horses showing up and other horses are going the wrong way. Yesterday wasn’t our best effort, obviously, but as long as he comes back good you still got the Wood and see what happens from there.”
The 1 1/8-mile Wood Memorial (G2) is run at Aqueduct April 8.
Students On Track Initiative at Laurel Saturday Well Received
The Maryland Jockey Club’s inaugural Students On Track Career Initiative drew approximately 40 college students to Laurel Saturday to learn about Maryland’s thriving thoroughbred industry while exploring career possibilities.
As part of the program, students watched morning workouts and then listened to a panel discussion by Eclipse Award-winning writer Joe Clancy, Eclipse Award-winning TV producer Stacie Clark-Rogers and America’s Best Racing video correspondent Dan Tordjman regarding their journey in the industry and the next steps for students interested in pursuing a career.
Following the panel discussion, students visited the paddock and watched from the apron as Wilko’s Last Dance won the third race, named the Students On Track Sprint. They posed in the winner’s circle with apprentice rider Carlos Carrasco, whose victory was the first of his professional career.
Students, many with a passion for horses and part of their school’s equestrian teams, came from colleges around the state such as the University of Maryland, Goucher College, Loyola University, Salisbury University and Frederick Community College as well as Virginia Tech. They are working toward degrees in various majors such as equine science and kinesiology, government/politics, communication, marketing and business.
Rainbow 6, Super Hi-5 Carryovers for Return of Live Racing Friday
There will be carryovers in the 20-cent Rainbow 6 and $1 Super Hi-5 wagers when live racing returns to Laurel Friday, March 10. First race post time is 12:35 p.m.
The Rainbow 6 will have a jackpot carryover of $3,491.94 after multiple tickets were sold Sunday with all six winners, each worth $375.94.
Friday’s opener will feature a Super Hi-5 carryover of $2,428.15.
Beginning Sunday, March 12 first race post time moves to 1:10 p.m.
Who’s Hot: Jockey Horacio Karamanos and trainer Linda Rice teamed up to bookend Sunday’s eight-race card with a pair of victories, winning the opener with Asset Allocation ($4.60) and the finale with Sounds Delicious ($3.40). Jockey Trevor McCarthy notched back-to-back wins aboard Go Magician Go ($11.40) in the sixth and The Great Provider ($6.40) in the seventh.
