User:Crowdpleaser12

Kantharos is a two year old Kentucky-bred chestnut son of Lion Heart out of the Southern Halo mare Contessa Halo. His date of birth is currently unavailable. However, he is a perfect 3 for 3 in his early career, and some are already calling him the "best two year old in the country". He made his race debut May 13th, 2010 at Churchill Downs, romping home by 11 3/4 lengths. He came back a month later, for the (gr.3) Bashford Manner Stakes, at Churchill Downs. Despite stumbling at the start, he recovered nicely, and stalked the front-runners as longshots thewayitusedtobe and Gold for cash led the field through the first quarter-mile in :21.81. Heading into the backstretch, the glossy chestnut son of Lion Heart moved up, and took the lead. He began pulling away with each and every stride; it seemed to be a replay on his debut race, a month prior. He was never seriously challenged and officially crossed the wire 9 1/2 lengths in front of the previously undefeated Lou Brissie, who was a half-length in front of Speed Demon. He's owned by Jess Jackson's Stonestreet Stables, who also owns 2009 Horse of the Year, Rachel Alexandra. He was then shipped up to Saratoga, where he prepped for a start in the (gr.2) Saratoga Special Stakes, August 16th, at Saratoga Racecourse. it was his first race in New York, and also his 2nd start on a sloppy track. The Saratoga Special was reduced to a field of 4, with Kantharos breaking about in the middle, from post position 4. Despite bumping into another horse, Kantharos got off well, and stalked Blue right by, and Bail out the cat.Heading into the backstretch, Kantharos made his move but Bail out the cat wasn't quite finished. He gave a brief fight, but Kantharos was the better of the two, kicking clear within a matter of strides. He crossed the finish line 9 1/4 lengths in front of Bail out the Cat, and first-time starter Manchurian High. Worth $90,000, it bumped Kantharos's earnings to $185,213. He was replaced by Garret Gomez, after his normal jockey, Robby Albarado was injured in a spill. Bred in Kentucky by Hedberg Hall Inc., Kantharos was purchased by Nick Salusto, agent for Pegasus Holding Group, for $80,000 from the Indian Creek Farm consignment to the 2009 Keeneland September yearling sale. Pinhooked by Eddie Woods, agent, into the 2010 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s March sale of 2-year-olds in training, the colt was purchased by Jess Jackson’s Stonestreet Stables for $250,000. "You like a horse a lot, and like how he’s doing, but it’s the variables you have no control over," Asmussen said following the race. "Garrett said it took him awhile to get into it. He thought he (Kantharos) was cautious going over the track when he was warming up. He said that during first 50 yards he wasn’t on the bridle much at all, but after he went a little ways he got into himself. I thought that he came into the stretch well. He hesitated a little bit when he first left (Bail Out the Cat), but late he really looked good and smooth and like he’ll go further, which is what everybody wants to know right now. What he’s done at these sprint distances is very impressive and brilliant, but we want to be greedy and get a little bit more." "I’ve watched both of my colt’s races and in one race he was actually behind horses for a ways, so I just let him get up on his feet, let him build, and let him show me the way," Gomez said of his inaugural ride aboard the winner. "I let him tell me what to do and at what time. If you watch his first two races, this is probably an identical re-run of both. I just tried to sit up there, be the best passenger, and stay out of his way to let him do his job. He seemed like he handled the mud OK, and he ran fast enough. He’s a nice colt and I’d like to get on him again." "You know a very nice horse beat us," said Rick Violette, trainer of Bail Out the Cat. "We were second in a grade II. He at least confirmed that he is a pretty nice horse. We will let him cool out now and see. There are a lot of options, but we’ll get him home make sure he is all right, and then come up with a game-plan." The most logical spot for Kantharos's next start looks to be the (gr.2) Champagne Stakes, October 9th, at Belmont Park.