Multiple G3 Winner El Areeb Taking Next Step in Recovery
Multiple G3 Winner El Areeb Taking Next Step in Recovery
Jockey Pimentel Gets Good News on Back, Knee Injuries
Late Pick 5, Rainbow 6 Carryovers for 10-Race Program Friday
LAUREL, MD – M M G Stable’s multiple Grade 3 winner El Areeb, sidelined since late March with a knee injury, will move to the Fair Hill Training Center in Elkton, Md. this weekend to continue his recovery.
Laurel Park-based trainer Cal Lynch said the 3-year-old Exchange Rate colt will leave Saturday for Fair Hill under the care of Bruce Jackson. There, he will begin exercising on the AquaTred, an underwater treadmill that reduces stress on the joints.
El Areeb was one of the leading Triple Crown contenders when he exited a March 29 workout with a fractured knee. He had surgery April 3 at the New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Pa. and stitches removed April 17, and subsequent exams showed the healing process is on schedule.
“He’s doing really well,” Lynch said. “He’s moving up to Bruce Jackson on the 15th and start back on the AquaTred. He’s had his 90 days, and we’re very pleased with him. He looks fantastic. The X-rays were very good, so the guys are excited. It won’t be long now.”
El Areeb put together a four-race win streak starting with his maiden victory and his first stakes triumph, the James F. Lewis III, last fall at Laurel. He kicked off 2017 with successive Grade 3 wins in the Jerome and Withers at Aqueduct and was training for the Wood Memorial (G2) at the time of his injury.
“He’ll be up at Fair Hill for about 60 days so we’re looking at the middle of September to get him back,” Lynch said. “Whatever he needs up there, he’ll get. He’ll work on the AquaTred so there won’t be too much impact on him and then we’ll get him back in the barn and go from there.”
Meanwhile Lynch said 3-year-old Two Charley’s, gutsy neck winner of a six-furlong optional claiming allowance over older horses July 7 at Laurel, may get a break before his next start. Owner Charles Biggs was on hand to see the latest win by Two Charley’s, who finished second to El Areeb in the Lewis and fourth behind Irish War Cry in the Marylander Dec. 31 at Laurel.
“It’s always tough for some of those younger horses, the 3-year-olds, to take on the older horses this time of year … but there weren’t too many options for him and he’s been sitting on a race for the last couple of weeks. He’s very game,” Lynch said. “Charlie Biggs was [there] so that made it special. He doesn’t get out too often so it was great to have him get his picture taken.
“We’ll see how he comes back and we’ll talk about it. Whatever Mr. Biggs wants to do, that’s what we’ll do,” he added. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we gave him a little bit of time here. He’s run hard every time and we try and space his races out. We’ll see. There’s a race back here in a couple of weeks but I think it’s going to be a little quick back for him.”
Jockey Pimentel Gets Good News on Back, Knee Injuries
A follow-up exam on Julian Pimentel’s injured back and knee revealed the journeyman jockey should be able to return sooner rather than later, agent Ronny Gerardo said.
Pimentel, 36, was hurt in a spill during training hours July 1 at Laurel. He was transported to the hospital where he was diagnosed with a fractured T-12 vertebra in his back as well as a torn meniscus and fractured kneecap in his left knee. Fitted with a brace for both his back and knee, he was given a recovery period of up to three months.
On Tuesday, Pimentel visited a sports injury specialist in Columbia, Md. and was told the meniscus was not torn and the kneecap only had a hairline fracture, and he no longer needed the brace. The broken vertebra still limits his movement but Pimentel does not have to wear the back brace on a full-time basis and is expected to make a full recovery in half the time.
“The doctor said the knee is only going to take about four weeks to heal,” Gerardo said. “The back, he said as long as he uses the brace for about four weeks and doesn’t try to bend over it should heal just fine and take between four and six weeks to heal that. Worst case scenario, as long as he does everything the right way, he could be back in six weeks.”
Pimentel ranked sixth in purses and eighth in wins at Laurel’s current summer meet at the time of his injury. He has another follow-up appointment scheduled for July 25.
“It’s very good news compared to what we heard before. It’s not nearly as bad,” Gerardo said. “The doctor was moving his knee around with no pain or anything. He said don’t overdo it and go jogging or anyting like that, just take it easy and it should heal within four weeks.
“He was tapping him on the back and he had no pain. He said just use the brace if you’re going to be walking around but as long as you’re sitting down or lying in bed, don’t use it,” he added. “Fingers crossed, he’s doing well.”
Late Pick 5, Rainbow 6 Carryovers for 10-Race Program Friday
Live racing returns to Laurel Park with a 10-race program Friday that includes carryovers in the 50-cent Late Pick 5 and 20-cent Rainbow 6. First race post time is 1:10 p.m.
Both multi-race wagers went unsolved Sunday creating a carryover of $8,205.83 in the Late Pick 5 (Races 6-10), which offers an industry-low 12 percent takeout, and $773.49 in the Rainbow 6 (Races 5-10).
Six races have been scheduled for the Kelso and Fort Marcy layouts over Laurel’s world-class turf course Friday attracting 66 horses, an average of 11 starters per race.
Saturday’s 11-race card features seven grass races led by the $100,000 Stormy Blues (5 ½ furlongs) and $75,000 Pearl Necklace (1 1/16 miles) for 3-year-old fillies and the $75,000 Caveat (1 1/16 miles) for 3-year-olds.
