El Areeb

EL AREEB (c, Exchange Rate—Feathered Diamond, by A.P. Indy)

'TDN Rising Star' O-M M G Stables, LLC. B-Dixiana Farms, LLC (KY). T-Cathal A. Lynch. Sales History: $100,000 Ylg '15 KEESEP; $340,000 2yo '16 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: MGSW, 7-4-1-1, $364,200.

Mar. 14 TDN Top 12 Rank: N/A

Last Start: 3rd, GIII Gotham S., AQU, Mar. 4

Accomplishments Include: 1st, GIII Withers S., AQU, Feb. 4, 1st, GIII Jerome S., AQU, Jan. 2, 1st, James F. Lewis III S., LRL, Nov. 19

Next Start: GII Wood Memorial S., AQU, Apr. 8

Thoro-Graph sheet, Equineline PPs

KY Derby Points: 20

'TDN Rising Star' El Areeb is not only going to have to prove he's learned to rate since succumbing to pace pressure while on the front end in his non-threatening third in the Gotham S., but he's going to have to execute this new dimension against far tougher competition in the Wood Memorial. “I put him in behind horses,” trainer Lynch said after a: 49.40 (7/15) half-mile move at Laurel Mar. 23. “He was like two or three lengths behind [two older stakes winners] and then finished up a little stronger than they did.” If the colt can fuse his solid foundation (seven races) with some in-race versatility, he could be a legitimate stalking presence going nine furlongs in the Wood. But keep in mind his two previous stakes romps at Aqueduct both come over the tighter inner track, wile the Wood will be run over the larger main oval.

VIDEO PPS