KANTHAKA RETURNS HOME TO TAKE GIII LAZARO BARRERA STAKES

By Mike Willman —-

KANTHAKA
Zoe Metz Photography

KANTHAKA RETURNS HOME TO TAKE GRADE III, $100,000 LAZARO BARRERA STAKES BY THREE QUARTERS OF A LENGTH UNDER PRAT; TRAINED BY HOLLENDORFER, HE GETS SEVEN FURLONGS IN 1:23.25

ARCADIA, Calif. (May 12, 2018)—Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer’s classy Kanthaka returned to Santa Anita on Saturday to take the Grade III, $100,000 Lazaro Barrera Stakes by three quarters of length under Flavien Prat. Breaking from the rail, he was fifth midway around the far turn and split horses at the top of the lane en route to stopping the seven furlong clock at 1:23.25.

Third, beaten 6 ½ lengths two starts back in the Grade II San Felipe Stakes going a mile and one sixteenth here on March 10, he was most recently a well beaten sixth in the Grade II, 1 1/8 miles Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on April 7.

“I thought Flavien put the horse right up in there where he had a chance to get trapped and not get out, but he was counting on getting a seam and he did get the seam and went through it right away,” said Hollendorfer. “I think he has the potential to run longer distances, but there are seven furlong races that fit him really good.”

A Kentucky-bred colt by Jimmy Creed, Kanthaka took the Grade II, seven furlong San Vicente Stakes here three starts back on Feb. 10 and is now unbeaten in three tries at seven furlongs.

Off as the 6-5 favorite in a field of six sophomores, Kanthaka paid $4.40, $3.00 and $2.20.

Owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, Kanthaka, who was a $140,000 Barretts March 2-year-old in Training Sale purchase, now has three wins from six starts. With the winner’s share of $60,000, he has earnings of $263,663.

“I waited to make my move when I wanted and it opened up perfectly,” said Prat. “After that, he did a brilliant job. Once he got the lead, he kind of looked around. He made that nice move and for about half a length, he looked around, but that was it.”

Much closer early than anyone could have anticipated, Beautiful Shot, with Kent Desormeaux up, was a joint leader while three-deep turning for home and sustained his run through the lane to finish second, 1 ¼ lengths in front of Zulfikhar.

Trained by Keith Desormeaux and beaten 16 lengths at 87-1 in the Grade I Arkansas Derby on April 14, Beautiful Shot was off at 9-1 and paid $5.60 and $3.20.

“He finished full of run,” said Kent. “Just an incredible effort, he came back on the last 100 (yards).”

One of two Bob Baffert entrants, Zulfikhar, who was head and head for the early lead with stablemate McKale and longshot King Cause, appeared to get shuffled back a bit five sixteenths from home, but re-rallied late to best McKale by a nose for third money.

Off at 5-1, Zulfikhar paid $3.20 to show.

Fractions on the race were 23.05, 45.53 and 1:10.12.

First post time for a nine-race card on Sunday is at 12:30 p.m. Admission gates open at 10:30 a.m. For additional racing information, please visit www.santaanita.com.

LAZARO BARRERA STAKES QUOTES
GRADE III, $100,000
JOCKEY QUOTES

FLAVIEN PRAT, KANTHAKA, WINNER: “I had a good trip. I waited to make my move when I wanted, it opened up perfectly and after that, he did a brilliant job.
“Once he got the lead, he kind of looked around. He made that nice move and for about half a length he looked around but that was it.”

KENT DESORMEAUX, BEAUTIFUL SHOT, SECOND: “He finished full of run. Just an incredible effort; he came back on the last 100 (yards).”

DRAYDEN VAN DYKE, MCKALE, FOURTH: “He just wasn’t good enough today, that’s it. They didn’t go that fast for that distance and he just didn’t kick on.”

TRAINER QUOTES

JERRY HOLLENDORFER, KANTHAKA, WINNER: “I thought Flavien (Prat) put the horse right up in there where he had a chance to get trapped and not get out, but he was counting on getting a seam and he did get the seam and went through it right away. When he saw the opening, he went right through, so I was really proud of him and the rider. I think he has the potential to run longer distances, but there are seven furlong races that fit him really good.”

MICHAEL GRIMM, ONE OF THE WEST POINT PARTNERS IN KANTHAKA: “It’s very exciting. This is our second graded stakes win with Kanthaka. We love the horse; he tries so hard. You can always find the (correct) breeding for a horse, but you don’t know what’s inside of him until he actually gets into a race. He’s shown he’s got big courage. I was worried when horses came up to him in the stretch, but he held them off and showed his courage.”

NOTES: The winning owners are West Point Thoroughbreds. The race is named for the late trainer of 1978 Triple Crown winner Affirmed.

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