Lagynos scores in the Commonwealth Turf (Coady Media)
Churchill Downs Press Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Lagynos used an authoritative closing kick to split rivals in mid-stretch and draw away late to win the 19th running of the $286,005 Commonwealth Turf (Grade III) by three-quarters of a length over Evade (FR) in stakes record time on Saturday at Churchill Downs.
Lagynos ran 1 1/16 miles over “firm” turf in 1:40.83 to eclipse Heart to Heart’s previous Commonwealth Turf record of 1:41.54 in 2014. Flavien Prat rode the winner for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, who won the race for a record-extending fourth time. His other Commonwealth Turf winners were Inca King (2007), Hot Springs (2018) and Gigante (2023).
This breakthrough performance was Lagynos’ first stakes win. Earlier this year, he finished second in the $275,000 Audubon in June and $500,000 Hall of Fame (GII) at Saratoga in August. Also, he was third in the $400,000 Transylvania (GIII) and $600,000 American Turf (GII).
“He deserved this win,” Asmussen said. “He’s gotten in so much trouble in his last couple starts and even this spring at Keeneland. We’re very proud of his effort to win a race like this today. He’s shown up for every start and runs hard each time.”
Lagynos relaxed in sixth down the backstretch as My Boy Prince led the field of eight 3-year-olds through fractions of :23.08, :47.34 and 1:11.23. At the head of the stretch, Lagynos was full of run but had nowhere to go with traffic ahead of him. A seam appeared between My Boy Prince on the inside and Piper’s Factor to the outside. Lagynos used a powerful late kick to split those rivals, grabbed the lead at the eighth pole and cruised down the homestretch to outrun Evade (FR) by three-quarters of a length.
#7 LAGYNOS ($9.12) prevails in the $300,000 Commonwealth Turf Stakes (G3) at @ChurchillDowns. The three-year-old Kantharos colt secures the first graded victory of his career with Flavien Prat in the irons. Steve Rasmussen trains. pic.twitter.com/4rIeFlbfrV
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) November 23, 2024
“He broke well and I got him to relax going into the first turn,” Prat said. “I knew I wanted to be close but would have to wait for room. Down the lane I was able to split horses late and he really finished up nicely.”
Lagynos returned $9.12, $4.82 and $3.32 as the 7-2 third betting choice. Evade (FR), with Luan Machado up, paid $6.44 and $3.70 at odds of 5-1. Ak Sar Ben Derby, ridden by Junior Alvarado at odds of 16-1, paid $6.78 to show.
Piper’s Factor, My Boy Prince, 5-2 favorite Herchee, Dashman and Will Take It completed the order of finish. Telescopic was scratched.
Lagynos netted $180,350 for owner HRH Prince Sultan Bin Mishal Al Saud of Saudi Arabia and now boasts career earnings of $700,553 from a record of 3-2-3 in 13 starts.
Lagynos is a son of Kantharos out of the Speightstown mare Steamy and was bred in Kentucky by Robert Spiegel.
