Stonestreet
Stable’s Kantharos overcame a
stumble at the break to cruise to a 9 ½-length victory over Lou Brissie
to win the 109th running of the $108,200 Bashford Manor Presented by
Fasig-Tipton (Grade III) on Saturday afternoon at Churchill Downs.
Trained
by Steve Asmussen and ridden by Robby Albarado, Kantharos spotted
the field of six a couple of steps at the break as longshots Thewayitusedtobe
and Gold for Cash led the field through the first quarter-mile in
:21.81.
Midway
on the far turn, Albarado sent Kantharos after the leaders and quickly assumed
command and was never threatened in completing the six furlongs on a fast main
track in 1:09.89. The victory was worth $66,413 and increased Kantharos’
earnings to $95,213 with two victories in two starts.
Kantharos
is a Kentucky-bred son of Lion Heart out of the Southern Halo mare Contessa
Halo.
It
was the third Bashford Manor victory for Asmussen, who won the race in 2004
with Lunarpal and 2007 with Kodiak Kowboy. Albarado won the race
for the second time, having scored in 2003 with Limehouse.
Kantharos,
who won at first asking by 11 ¾ lengths on May 13, returned $3.40, $2.10 and
$2.10. Lou Brissie, ridden by Corey Lanerie, returned $2.20 and $2.10
and finished a half-length in front of Speed Demon, who paid $2.60 to
show under Jamie Theriot. It was three lengths back to Saturday
Dance, who was followed by Gold for Cash and Thewayitusedtobe.
The
42-day Spring Meet comes to a conclusion Sunday with an 11-race program
beginning at 12:45 p.m. (EDT). Highlighting the card is the 20th running
of the $175,000-added Firecracker Handicap (GII) that goes as the day’s 10th race
(5:26 p.m. post time) and the return to the races of 2009 Kentucky Derby winner
Mine That Bird. There’s also a Pick 6 carryover $7,208 on races 6-11
with a mandatory payout.
BASHFORD MANOR QUOTES
ROBBY
ALBARADO (jockey, KANTHAROS, winner):
“For him stumbling and everything, he picked himself up. He’s a very athletic
colt. He put himself in the race easily. At the three-eighths pole he let know
me he was ready and he just sprinted home. Very, very impressive. I felt
unbelievable from the eighth pole home. It was nothing for him; the sky is the
limit. I don’t know how good he can be. I haven’t squeezed him yet and neither
has (trainer) Steve (Asmussen). It’s scary good. Saratoga will be exciting. I always say, ‘You
need one good horse to go to Saratoga
with’ and this might be my one good horse. This is a special colt.”
STEVE
ASMUSSEN (trainer, KANTHAROS, first):
“He’s a very exciting horse. He is a very straight-forward horse. John Moynihan
bought him out of the March OBS sale from Eddie Woods, and he came into the
barn a professional. He’s not made a mistake and his two races so far have been
exciting. Hopefully we can make some of the right moves with him because he has
a tremendous amount of talent. He looked great coming down the stretch and it
was such an exciting race. We’ll talk to (owner) Mr. (Jess) Jackson about his
next race, but we’ll get him out of the weather and move north with him.”
COREY
LANERIE (jockey, LOU BRISSIE, second):
“It was a good trip. My horse laid back there and I kept him back three or four
wide. I had the winner in my sight the whole time but he was just too much
horse today and kicked away from me at the top of the lane.”