Kanthaka tepid choice in evenly matched turf sprint

The classy Kanthaka goes back on Lasix in Friday’s Belmont headliner, a competitive third-level allowance scheduled for seven furlongs on the Widener turf course.

A multiple graded stakes winner at 3, Kanthaka has evolved into an effective turf-sprint specialist since joining the string of trainer Graham Motion in 2020. Off a 13-month layoff here a year ago, the 6-year-old came wide from fifth to finish second by a neck to favored Oleksandra in the Grade 1 Jaipur.

Following a summer break, Kanthaka checked in fifth over soft ground on Sept. 12 in the Grade 3 Turf Sprint at Kentucky Downs. A slow pace hindered his chances when third in the Grade 2 Nearctic on Oct. 18 at Woodbine, after which he got the winter off.

In his April 3 season opener in the Grade 2 Shakertown at Keeneland, Kanthaka was a non-threatening sixth in his first race without Lasix, which is not permitted in stakes in Kentucky.

Jose Lezcano has the mount on Kanthaka on Friday, when the son of Jimmy Creed competes beyond six furlongs on turf for the first time.

Reux, a new face on the local scene, is making his first start for red-hot trainer Christophe Clement following a nine-month absence.

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Reux was a productive handicapper in 2019-20 in France, where he won 4 of 13 starts on turf and synthetic. Manny Franco will ride the 4-year-old, who is adding Lasix after breezing a bullet half-mile in 48.20 seconds on the inner turf May 9 at Belmont.

Clement also will saddle Maxwell Esquire, who’s exiting a second-level allowance score in his first run of the year on April 22.

In a field devoid of a regular front-runner, Joker On Jack could lead through soft fractions under Kendrick Carmouche. Trained by Wesley Ward, the 4-year-old rallied for third in his season debut in a third-level allowance on April 15 at Keeneland.

Trainer Bill Mott sends out longshots Penalty and Chewing Gum, who ran one of his better races in October when second in the Grade 3 Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational.

American Power was entered for the main track only with a $100,000 claiming tag. He has been on a tear, winning 4 of 6 and more than $200,000 since trainer Rob Atras claimed him for $40,000 at Saratoga.

The feature goes as the third of nine races at 2:02 p.m.

◗ The Chad Brown-trained 3-year-old Stage Raider makes his much-anticipated third start in the eighth race, a one-mile allowance. A half-brother to Triple Crown winner Justify, Stage Raider graduated by 10 3/4 lengths with a 96 Beyer Speed Figure over a sloppy track on April 10 at Keeneland.