El Areeb continues recovery at Fair Hill

Multiple Grade 3 winner El Areeb is headed to Fair Hill Training Center this weekend to continue recovering from knee surgery.

“He’s had his 90 days, and we’re very pleased with him. He looks fantastic,” trainer Cal Lynch said. “The X-rays were very good, so the guys are excited. It won’t be long now.”

The Kentucky-bred sophomore, a contender on this year’s Triple Crown trail with romping wins in the Jerome Stakes (G3) and Withers Stakes (G3), came out of a March 29 work at Laurel Park with a fractured knee.

El Areeb underwent surgery at New Bolton Center in Pennsylvania on April 3, and had his stitches removed 14 days later.

According to Lynch, the gray son of Exchange Rate will leave for Fair Hill on Saturday and be under the care of Bruce Jackson.

“He’s doing really well,” Lynch said. “He’s moving up to Bruce Jackson on the 15th and start back on the AquaTred (an underwater treadmill that reduces stress on the joints).

“He’ll be up at Fair Hill for about 60 days so we’re looking at the middle of September to get him back,” the horseman added. “Whatever he needs up there, he’ll get. He’ll work on the AquaTred so there won’t be too much impact on him and then we’ll get him back in the barn and go from there.”