The $286,005 Commonwealth Stakes (G3T) Nov. 23 at Churchill Downs was a story of two journeys.
Lagynos —beneath North America’s main rider by earnings, Flavien Prat—discovered a seam between horses in early stretch and outkicked Evade , who tossed his head whereas rank early and circling extensive beneath Luan Machado. The winner prevailed by three-quarters of a size within the 1 1/16-mile turf race for 3-year-olds.
The victory for Lagynos was lengthy overdue after 9 losses in as many begins this yr. He had run competitively, nonetheless, with two seconds and two thirds. Amongst these was a runner-up end, crushed a neck, within the Nationwide Museum of Racing Corridor of Fame Stakes (G2T) this summer time at Saratoga Race Course.
“For him to run at this stage for the reason that spring and all yr lengthy, after which put it collectively at present, I believe he is a really deserving horse,” Corridor of Fame coach Steve Asmussen mentioned.
Sixth early within the discipline of eight, about three lengths behind pacesetter My Boy Prince as that one set reasonable splits of :23.08 and :47.34, Lagynos raced two extensive with cowl for a lot of the race. He was behind Evade, who was a handful for Machado in fifth. On the second flip and into the stretch, each horses started to advance on My Boy Prince and a pace-pressing Piper’s Issue , who had taken command with six furlongs in 1:11.23.Join BloodHorse Every day
Prat had adopted Piper’s Dream, believing he would carve a path for him within the stretch. However when that weakening runner was “not going anyplace, I needed to drop in, and I needed to cut up and after that, he acquired the job executed,” he mentioned.
Watch: Prat Says After Splitting Horses, Lagynos ‘Acquired The Job Achieved’
Piper’s Issue light to fourth, edged a neck for the present by Ak Sar Ben Derby , who rallied from final.
Lagynos, a son of Kantharos , ran 1 1/16 miles over agency turf in a stakes-record time of 1:40.83, capped by a closing sixteenth in :6.08. Coronary heart to Coronary heart held the earlier Commonwealth Turf report of 1:41.54, set in 2014.
Lagynos returned $9.12 to win because the third betting alternative.
Success Continues for Asmussen in Commonwealth
“He is such a cool horse,” Asmussen mentioned of Lagynos, who gave him a record-extending fourth win within the Commonwealth.
North America’s all-time winningest coach, Asmussen captured the race with Inca King (2007), Scorching Springs (2018), and Gigante (2023).
For Prat, the Commonwealth was his 52nd graded stakes win of 2024, giving him 19 greater than Irad Ortiz Jr., with 5 1/2 weeks remaining within the yr. His earnings and stakes success depart Prat positioned to doubtlessly outpoll Ortiz, the main rider this yr by wins, in Eclipse Award voting for excellent jockey of 2024.
“It has been an amazing yr. Hopefully, we’re ready the place we are able to at the least be within the combine for the Eclipse,” the rider mentioned.
Earnings, Pedigree
Lagynos, owned by His Royal Highness Prince Sultan Bin Mishal Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, earned $180,350 to carry his earnings to $700,553 from a report of 3-2-3 in 13 begins.
Bred in Kentucky by Robert Spiegel out of the Speightstown mare Steamy , Lagynos is now the second graded stakes winner for his dam, the opposite being $802,154 earner Imaginative and prescient Good (Pollard’s Imaginative and prescient).
Photograph: Coady Media/Madison BeckerLagynos, a 3-year-old colt by Kantharos, wins the Commonwealth Turf
Agent Chad Schumer purchased the chestnut Lagynos for $200,000 on the 2022 September Yearling Sale from the Valkyre Stud consignment.
Lagynos is the second graded stakes winner of 2024 for Kantharos, following Our Shot ‘s success within the Woodford Stakes (G2T) this fall at Keeneland. The Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms stallion stands for a $12,500 payment in 2025.
Video: Commonwealth Turf S. (G3T)
