Handicapper's Corner: EL KABEIR

Any trainer will tell you the promise of receiving a good 2-year-old is reason for hope. They will also tell you that hopes are dashed far more often than dreams are made. But for John Terranova, the expectation of developing a 2-year-old into a top 3-year-old prospect has become a reality.

Terranova's Gotham Stakes (gr. III) winner El Kabeir, owned by Zayat Stables, will be among the favorites when he runs in the April 4 TwinSpires.com Wood Memorial (gr. I) at Aqueduct Racetrack, New York's final prep for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). In his final prep for the Wood, El Kabeir breezed five furlongs March 30 over Belmont Park's training track in 1:01.12, the fastest of 27 works at the distance.

The Scat Daddy colt—who was bred in Florida by Rustlewood Farm and purchased for $250,000 from the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s 2013 August yearling sale by Patrice Miller's EQB for the Zayats—has been a force to be reckoned with this winter at Aqueduct. Prior to the Gotham, El Kabeir won the Jerome Stakes (gr. III) and was second in the Withers (gr. III). And his success has not been restricted to New York; last year he won the Kentucky Jockey Club (gr. II) at Churchill Downs.

Terranova and his wife Tonja, who works as his assistant, had never trained a Zayat-owned runner of their own until El Kabeir and five other 2-year-olds came into their barn last year, but the couple had a relationship with the Zayats through Hall of Famer Bob Baffert. A former assistant to Baffert, Tonja and her husband still work as caretakers for the California-based horseman's runners when they ship from the West coast to compete in New York.

Among the 2-year-olds the Zayats were divvying up between trainers last spring were El Kabeir, American Pharoah, and Mr. Z. American Pharoah went to Baffert and was last year's champion 2-year-old male and after winning the Rebel (gr. II) in his seasonal debut on March 14 the Pioneerof the Nile homebred is now being pointed to the Arkansas Derby (gr. I). Mr. Z went to Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, who saddled the multiple graded stakes-placed Malibu Moon colt in the March 28 Louisiana Derby (gr. II).

Baffert and Lukas' combined win record in the Kentucky Derby is seven, while Terranova has started just one horse in the race—longshot Falling Sky, who finished 19th and last in 2013.

But the Zayats, who have had runners finish second in the Derby on three occasions, weren't hung-up on stats when they pegged Terranova to train El Kabeir.

"I had respect for John, Tonja, and their team," Ahmed Zayat said. "They are incredible horsemen. Their work ethics are phenomenal. They are great caretakers of their horses. I've witnessed their work for years, when they were taking care of the horses I would have with Baffert, who shipped to New York and were stabled in their barn. I admired their work, and I was waiting for the right opportunity to add an additional trainer in New York. It really came natural, because I like the Terranovas.

"I try to be fair when I allocate horses to different trainers," Zayat added. "I try to give them at least what I call the potential to be a stakes or star horse when allocating our crop. We knew we gave the (Terranovas) a good one, but it is extremely gratifying and thrilling seeing your original thoughts come true. El Kabeir has proven to be a very solid horse."

A native of Long Island, N.Y., Terranova has been training since 1992. He is best known for his success with the popular New York-bred Gander, who earned $1.8 million during his 60-race career, making 46 of those starts while in Terranova's care. The trainer has won four grade I races: the 2008 Hollywood Starlet with Laragh; 2009 Darley Alcibiades with Negligee; 2010 Prioress with Franny Freud; and the 2011 Central Bank Ashland with Lilacs and Lace.

"I would say he is the best horse I've trained as far as his development as a 2-year-old into a 3-year-old," Terranova said. "The Gotham, the Wood, these races are tremendous races to have a shot in, particularly with a horse who is going into them well, and who is possibly going to reach the Classics. That's something (our barn) doesn't get too often."

The Terranovas both said El Kabeir thrived in New York during one of the harshest winters on record. Even on the third day of spring, the morning El Kabeir worked five furlongs in a sizzling :59 4/5 at Belmont Park in preparation for the Wood Memorial, the temperature was barely 30 degrees.

With exercise rider Simon Harris on his back, El Kabeir, a muscle-bound gray, had a bounce in his step as he entered Barn 14 following the March 22 breeze. He worked with stablemate Instructor Kunu, who was ridden by jockey C.C. Lopez. At 54 years old, Lopez will be looking for the first grade I victory of his career aboard El Kabeir in the Wood Memorial.

Both Harris and Lopez, who were rosy-cheeked from the cold, were grinning when they returned to the barn.

"He looked good, didn't he?" Harris asked. "He likes to play. But he's at the mature end now. Earlier in his career, he wanted to take you on a lot, he liked to rear up and jump around. That was just being young. But in the last couple of months, he has really settled down, come around, and relaxed."

Harris, 47, has worked for the Terranovas for 22 years. When Baffert runners ship to New York for stakes, Harris serves as their exercise rider. He has swung his right leg over some fabulous horses, including Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) winner Bayern and multiple grade I winners Congaree , Point Given , and Silverbulletday.

"It's nice to get on the horses for Bob when he sends them in, but they usually only stay a week before going right back to California," Harris said. "But to get on a really nice horse, every single day, is something really special."

While John Terranova has been overseeing a division of horses he sent to Tampa Bay Downs in Florida this winter, Tonja has been the point person in New York. After El Kabeir's bullet work on March 22, his first since winning the Gotham, she marveled at how much the colt has blossomed from his 2-year-old season to now.

"Since he ran at Churchill, he really started to change," she said. "What's amazing is that out of each race—you know, sometimes horses will lose weight or conditioning—his hind end has just developed. Simon said he looked down the other day while galloping him and couldn't believe how big his neck has gotten. It's amazing how this horse has kept going forward, while braving the brutal winter we had."

John Terranova uses words such as "good vibe" and "karma" when talking about the phone call he received from the Zayats in 2014, and the subsequent story El Kabeir has scripted for him and his team.

"We've known the Zayat family for a while, and always had a good time with them when they came to the races in New York," he said. "When Justin Zayat and his father called us up to take six 2-year-olds last year, we didn't hesitate. That was a really nice thing, and we're happy to have had that happen. The Zayats have a great understanding of the game and what it takes.They are very committed and enthusiastic about their horses, which always makes it a pleasure for a trainer."