Kantharos Retires to Vinery Florida

Vinery announced Dec. 3 it would stand undefeated graded stakes-winning juvenile Kantharos at Vinery in Summerfield, Fla., for 2011. The son of Lion Heart will stand for $5,000 stands and nurses.

“He is an attractive individual with a very viable pedigree,” said Vinery President Tom Ludt. “It was apparent to anyone who saw him that he had talent—he won his three races by nearly 30 lengths.”

Raced by Jess Jackson’s Stonestreet Stables and trained by Steve Asmussen, Kantharos was among the best 2-year-olds on the East Coast this year. His scintillating 7 1/4-length victory in the Saratoga Special Stakes (gr. II) was his third win in as many starts and his second graded stakes win.

Kantharos broke his maiden in May at Churchill Downs by 11 3/4 lengths as the even money favorite. After a seven-week layoff, he made his next start in Churchill’s Bashford Manor Stakes (gr. III) where ran away from the field to win by 9 1/2 lengths.

“Kantharos was an amazing talent,” said Asmussen. “It’s as if he came into the barn already knowing what to do. You hear people say a horse has ‘unlimited potential,’ but in the case of Kantharos I believe it’s true.”

Bred in Kentucky by Hedberg Hall, Inc., Kantharos was purchased by Jackson for $250,000 at this year’s Ocala Breeders’ Sales March 2-year-olds in training sale. He is out of the Southern Halo mare Contessa Halo, he was retired due to an injury.