Kanthaka finds his distance in Laz Barrera Stakes win
Tried twice on the Kentucky Derby trail, Kanthaka on Saturday returned to the seven-furlong distance that has suited him best and found a winning trip in the Grade 3, $100,000 Lazaro Barrera Stakes, named for the Hall of Fame trainer of 1978 Triple Crown champ Affirmed.
Kanthaka broke his maiden going 7/8 of a mile at Santa Anita Park, then followed up by winning the Grade 2 San Vicente before runs in the San Felipe (third) and Blue Grass Stakes (sixth).
And so it appears West Point Thoroughbreds has on its hands a closing sprinter — but a good one at that.
“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," Hollendorfer said. "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.”
The final margin of victory was 3/4 of a lenght. Behind Kanthaka, Beautiful Shot closed for second, while Zulfikhar got the nod for third over Bob Baffert stablemate McKale.
“Once he got the lead, he kind of looked around," Prat said of Kanthaka. "He made that nice move and for about half a length he looked around but that was it.”
Hollendorfer has now won three of the last four runnings of the Laz Barrera.