Owned by Zayat Stables and trained by John Terranova, El Kabeir was victorious last Saturday in the $400,00 Gotham Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct, and remains the leader in the Road to the Derby points standings.
The son of Scat Daddy has now won four of his eight career starts with earnings of $678,892, and has amassed 75 points toward entry into the Run for the Roses, enough to assure a spot in the starting gate on the first Saturday of May.
His early betting odds for the Kentucky Derby dropped from 33-1 to 16-1 this week at Bovada. The colt is currently the fifth betting choice for the Derby.
The only horses at lower odds are Dortmund and American Pharoah at 8-1 and Carpe Diem and Texas Red at 12-1.
The colt picked up his first Derby points by winning the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) on Nov. 29 at Churchill Downs, and then won the Jerome Stakes (G3) on Jan. 3 in his first start as a three-year-old.
He tasted defeat in his next start in a runner up finish in the Withers Stakes (G2) on Feb. 2, settling for the runner up spot behind Far From Over, who is currently listed at betting odds of 20-1 at Bovada for the Kentucky Derby.
El Kabeir rallied from the back of the pack to take command in the stretch in the Gotham, holding on to win by 2 ¾ lengths with jockey Chuck Lopez aboard for the ride, returning his backers $4.60 as the betting favorite.
His final prep for the Kentucky Derby will come in the $1 million Wood Memorial (G1) at Aqueduct on April 4. Far From Over is also pointing toward the Wood.
International Star is currently second in the Derby points standings with 71. The colt is currently at early Derby odds of 20-1 at Bovada.
The colt is perfect in two starts this year, taking the Lecomte (G3) and Risen Star (G2), both at Fair Grounds. He will remain in New Orleans for his final prep, going in the $750,000 Louisiana Derby (G2) on March 28.
The lone Derby points race this weekend is Saturday’s $750,000 Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park. The race marks the three-year-old debut of American Pharoah, currently the co-favorite for the Kentucky Derby at 8-1 at Bovada along with his stablemate Dortmund.
Kentucky Derby Point Standings (as of March 11, 2015)
|
Rank |
Horse |
Trainer |
Points |
Non-Restricted Stakes Earnings |
|
1 |
El Kabeir |
John Terranova |
75 |
$620,792 |
|
2 |
International Star |
Mike Maker |
71 |
$490,979 |
|
3 |
Dortmund |
Bob Baffert |
70 |
$630,000 |
|
4 |
Carpe Diem |
Todd Pletcher |
64 |
$870,000 |
|
5 |
Itsaknockout |
Todd Pletcher |
50 |
$240,560 |
|
6 |
Upstart |
Rick Violette, Jr. |
36 |
$615,680 |
|
7 |
War Story |
Tom Amoss |
24 |
$120,000 |
|
8 |
Far Right |
Ron Moquette |
22 |
$385,906 |
|
9 |
Ami's Flatter |
Josie Carroll |
20 |
$99,200 |
|
10 |
Prospect Park |
Cliff Sise Jr. |
20 |
$80,000 |
|
11 |
Tiz Shea D |
Bill Mott |
20 |
$80,000 |
|
12 |
Mr. Z |
D. Wayne Lukas |
14 |
$518,326 |
|
13 |
Frosted |
Kiaran McLaughlin |
13 |
$176,200 |
|
14 |
Classy Class |
Kiaran McLaughlin |
13 |
$85,000 |
|
15 |
Texas Red |
Keith Desormeaux |
12 |
$1,176,000 |
|
16 |
Keen Ice |
Dale Romans |
12 |
$106,520 |
|
17 |
Ocho Ocho Ocho |
Jim Cassidy |
10 |
$660,250 |
|
18 |
American Pharoah |
Bob Baffert |
10 |
$360,000 |
|
19 |
Daredevil |
Todd Pletcher |
10 |
$339,600 |
|
20 |
Far From Over |
Todd Pletcher |
10 |
$150,000 |
|
21 |
Metaboss |
Jeff Bonde |
10 |
$126,000 |
|
22 |
Lucky Player |
Steve Asmussen |
10 |
$97,231 |
|
23 |
Bolo |
Carla Gaines |
10 |
$94,980 |
|
24 |
Divining Rod |
Arnaud Delacour |
10 |
$75,000 |
|
25 |
Frammento |
Nick Zito |
10 |
$42,000 |
|
26 |
Firing Line |
Simon Callaghan |
8 |
$130,000 |
|
27 |
Bold Conquest |
Steve Asmussen |
7 |
$87,176 |
|
28 |
Conquest Typhoon |
Mark Casse |
6 |
$335,827 |
|
29 |
Lord Nelson |
Bob Baffert |
6 |
$228,571 |
|
30 |
The Truth or Else |
Kenny McPeek |
6 |
$136,000 |
|
31 |
Rock Shandy |
Peter Miller |
6 |
$56,000 |
|
33 |
St. Joe Bay |
Peter Miller |
6 |
$43,000 |
|
34 |
Toasting Master |
Dale Romans |
5 |
$21,000 |
|
35 |
Danzig Moon |
Mark Casse |
5 |
$17,500 |
|
36 |
Bayerd |
Steve Asmussen |
4 |
$246,000 |
|
37 |
Imperia |
Kiaran McLaughlin |
4 |
$171,804 |
|
38 |
Cross the Line |
Jerry Hollendorfer |
4 |
$100,000 |
|
39 |
Nasa |
John Servis |
4 |
$40,000 |
|
40 |
Bluegrass Singer |
Marcus Vitali |
2 |
$118,945 |
|
41 |
Hashtag Bourbon |
Kellyn Gorder |
2 |
$74,117 |
|
42 |
Hollywood Critic |
Barbara Minshall |
2 |
$35,528 |
|
43 |
General Bellamy |
Bill Mott |
2 |
$25,000 |
|
44 |
Tiznow R J |
Steve Asmussen |
2 |
$24,000 |
|
45 |
Pioneerof the West |
Mark Casse |
2 |
$14,250 |
|
46 |
Private Prospect |
Michael Campbell |
1 |
$138,000 |
|
47 |
Danny Boy |
Dale Romans |
1 |
$59,544 |
|
48 |
Saratoga Heater |
Al Stall, Jr. |
1 |
$50,000 |
|
49 |
Bench Warrant |
John Sadler |
1 |
$42,000 |
|
50 |
Juan and Bina |
Gustavo Delgado |
1 |
$40,330 |
|
51 |
Tough Customer |
Wayne Catalano |
1 |
$25,000 |
|
52 |
Tencendur |
George Weaver |
1 |
$24,500 |
|
53 |
Another Lemon Drop |
Phil Bauer |
1 |
$20,000 |
|
54 |
Ackeret |
Kiaran McLaughlin |
1 |
$13,000 |
|
55 |
Harmonic |
Jerry Hollendorfer |
1 |
$12,000 |
|
56 |
Hero Ten All |
Jeff Mullins |
1 |
$9,250 |
|
57 |
Flashaway |
John C. Oxley |
1 |
$8,999 |