El Areeb Wins Withers Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack

Aqueduct Racetrack in South Ozone Park, New York was the scene of the $250,000 G3 Withers Stakes on Saturday, February 4. Three year olds took to Aqueduct's Inner track and raced 1 1/16 miles. M M G Stables' heavy 1-2 race favorite El Areeb made it look pretty easy cruising home to the 4 1/4 length score - his fourth straight win overall. El Areeb gained 10 qualifying points toward the Kentucky Derby and now is firmly on the radar for the most prestigious race in North America. 29-1 shot True Timber finished a very good second in the field of 10 while J Boys Echo settled for third at 6-1 odds. Bonus Points was fourth with 7-2 second choice Apartfromthecrowd, Square Shooter, Fillet of Sole, Small Bear, Always a Suspect, and Jaime's Angel completing the order of finish.