Borel to ride El Kabeir

El Kabeir (Scat Daddy) worked five furlongs at Belmont Park Sunday in 1:00.18, third fastest of 16 at the distance. After the work, Zayat Stables confirmed via twitter that three-time GI Kentucky Derby winner Calvin Borel will ride the colt at Churchill on the first Saturday in May. Borel rode El Kabeir to victory in the GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. at Churchill last November. In four starts this year, the gray has been ridden by C.C. Lopez. El Kabeir won both the GIII Jerome S. and GIII Gotham S. and is coming off a third-place effort in the Apr. 4 GI Twinspires.com Wood Memorial S. Zayat Stables also announced Ramon Vazquez will ride Mr. Z (Malibu Moon) in the Kentucky Derby. Vazquez rode the colt to a third-place finish in the Apr. 11 GI Arkansas Derby. Ahmed Zayat’s stable also sends leading contender American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) to the Derby with jockey Victor Espinoza.