Gotham Stakes Win for El Kabeir

Racing in great heart since the start of the year, talented colt El Kabeir( 3c Scat Daddy x Great Venue by Unbridled’s Song) claimed another feature race victory when capturing the $400,000 Grade III Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct on the weekend. Second in the Grade III Withers Stakes at this venue on February 7, the John Terranova trained colt bounced back from the defeat to score a dominant t wo and three-quarter length win in the 1 and 1/16th mile contest. A $250,000 OBS August Yearling purchase, El Kabeir runs for the Zayat Stable and has the overall record of four wins and three placings from eight starts with prizemoney of $678,892. A model of consistency, EL Kabeir has blossomed in recent months. "From two to three years old, he's a completely different horse,” said John Terranova. “He was a speedy horse [at two]. He was very fast, and we knew he was very talented, but we didn't know how he would be mentally. Now, we've focused on getting him to use his energy in the right way. He's gone the right way; he's that type. It's nice to see him completely change dimensions from two to three, and that quickly. "I think he thrives off the races, and training. The more you throw at him; the stronger he gets. I took him out the morning of this race and trained him a little bit. He seems to get sharper mentally, and physically he feels good. He thrives on the adrenaline. "We'd like to stay here and run in the Wood Memorial (Grade I) because he's done very well here." El Kabeir is the first winner for unraced Great Venue, a half-sister to Grade II winner Too Much Bling.