American Classic Pedigrees
  • Home
  • Books
  • Articles
  • Hoofprints
  • Horse Profiles
    • Horse Profiles A-E
    • Horse Profiles F-K
    • Horse Profiles L-Q
    • Horse Profiles R-Z
  • Links
  • About ACP
    • Author
    • Contact
    • For Contributors

2017 Triple Crown Trail---And They're Off!

1/2/2017

0 Comments

 
January is a month as uncertain as its weather for newly turned 3-year-olds. Generally speaking, those racing at this time are not the division's top prospects from the year before; those will not usually be seen under silks until February or early March. The colts taking their first tentative steps on the road to Churchill Downs in January are often those who waited until the last quarter of the year to break their maidens, too late to get into the mix for the major fall 2-year-old races. Sometimes, like 2006 Kentucky Derby (USA-I) winner Barbaro, they become stars. More often, they have their brief moment and then fade from view as the sophomore competition becomes more intense.

Which way El Areeb will go isn't known yet, but he certainly looked the part of a rising 3-year-old hopeful in taking the January 2 Jerome Handicap (USA-III), the first points race of 2017 for this year's Road to the Kentucky Derby. Already a stakes winner over 6 furlongs in November, the gray son of Exchange Rate ran off and hid from six rivals in his first test over a route. That earned him his first graded win and 10 points toward a Derby starting berth, but more importantly, it revealed a willingness to rate off a rival until asked. As both his previous wins had been scored in front-running fashion, the new tactics were an important step in the colt's mental maturation and bode well for his ability to compete at the next level.

El Areeb is a son of the late Exchange Rate, who scored his biggest win in the 2001 Tom Fool Handicap (USA-II). Before writing El Areeb off as a speed horse who got lucky over a wet track, however, it's worth remembering that Exchange Rate's progeny include stakes winners at up to 2500 meters (about 12 furlongs). Further, El Areeb hails from a solid Canadian family that includes Queen's Plate winner Regal Intention and Canadian Oaks winners Tilt My Halo and Tiffany's Secret, and his dam is a daughter of 1992 Belmont Stakes (USA-I) and Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-I) winner A.P. Indy. He will still have to prove that he has inherited the speed and the stamina to become a contender along the Triple Crown trail, but today's win was certainly a step in the right direction and a positive omen for his future.

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    I'm Avalyn Hunter, an author, pedigree researcher and longtime racing fan.

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014

    RSS Feed

© 2014-2023 by Avalyn Hunter. All rights reserved. Contributors' materials remain the property of the copyright owners and are used by permission.

Home     Books     Articles     Horse Profiles    Hoofprints    Contact    Links