KANTHARI

A flashy-looking son by Kantharos, this ridgling was sensational in his quarter-mile work of 20 2/5 to share honors for the fastest work at the distance at the second session of the OBS under tack show. Eligible for $4 million stallion bonus.

MyRacehorse and Spendthrift Farm partnered to acquire this full brother to stakes winner, Adventurous Lady, for $575,000 at the second session of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s March Sale of 2-year-olds in training. Seven-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Todd Pletcher will train this ridgling.

This son of Kantharos breezed the co-fastest quarter mile of the sale in 20 2/5 and in doing so showed an impressive stride that looks like can go a route of ground beyond what is traditionally accustomed to by his sire’s offspring. Our partner Spendthrift Farm also had the same assessment during an interview with Thoroughbred Daily News.

“He’s just an absolutely beautiful horse,” said Spendthrift’s farm manager, Ned Toffey. “He had a little more leg than you might typically find on a Kantharos–just a very classy-looking horse. I feel comfortable that he’ll be very fast, but he looks like a horse who may be able to stretch out a little bit as well. We thought he had one of the best breezes that we saw. Kantharos may be a little bit quiet right now, but that doesn’t bother me–we think he’s a very good sire. We’re very happy to have one. Just a very impressive physical–he was our pick of the day.”

As is pretty customary when purchasing a horse from a 2-year old sale, the ridgling will go to Spendthrift Farm for about 30-40 days for a little refresher before heading to Todd’s barn in New York to prepare for a summer campaign.

This is a unique offering, and no training and expenses will be raised during the initial offering. All training expenses will be deferred to the end of the horse’s career allowing for a greater share of race winnings/proceeds to be redistributed back to the shareholders. For further details click here.

Breeding Insights

Kantharos, a son of Lion Heart, was undefeated in three career starts as a 2-year-old. Possessing superior tactical speed, Kantharos was super impressive in his victories in a maiden race, the Grade 3 Bashford Manor, and the Grade 2 Saratoga Special, which he won by a combined 28 1/2 lengths!

As a stallion, he has sired some very speedy individuals, including multiple graded stakes winner X Y Jet, the winner of Dubai’s Golden Shaheen (G1), and World of Trouble, a multiple and dual surface Grade 1 winner through his victories in the Carter Handicap and Jaipur Invitational Stakes on the turf.

Kantharos began his stud career in Florida and because of his early success there, he was relocated to Hill ’n’ Dale Farm in Kentucky in 2017. In Florida, he was the leading freshman sire in winners and progeny earnings and achieved the same status with his second crop of runners.

He stands the 2021 breeding season at Hill ’n’ Dale for $30,000.

There is also precocity on this ridgling’s female side. His dam, Ari the Adventurer, is a daughter of Pioneerof the Nile, who was a Grade 1 stakes-winning juvenile. Ari the Adventurer was also a winner at 2 and this horse’s full-sister, Adventurous Lady, was a three-time winner as a 2-year-old, including two stakes victories.