At the Ocala Breeders’ Sale of two-year-olds in training last March, trainer Cathal Lynch and bloodstock agent Glenn Brok went to $625,000 to buy a son of Curlin. Named Undulated, he went on to finish second in the Laurel Futurity and win the Swynford Stakes.

But it’s the horse that they purchased later in the sale, the horse that they weren’t sure they had the budget for, that’s put them on the road to the Kentucky Derby.

On Saturday at Aqueduct Racetrack, El Areeb got his fourth straight facile victory when he won the Withers (G3) by 4 1/4 lengths, following up his win in the Jerome (G3), also over Aqueduct’s inner track, last month. El Areeb earned 10 points in the Kentucky Derby, giving him a total of 20 points.

“He’s done everything we’ve asked of him, and then some,” said Lynch.

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