Lagynos ends victory drought with Commonwealth Turf Cup

Lagynos had run well enough to win several turf stakes this season, but facts are facts, and Lagynos as of mid-afternoon Saturday was winless from nine starts as a 3-year-old.

Flavien Prat took care of that. Riding Lagynos for the first time, Prat worked out a perfect stalking trip in the Grade 3, $300,000 Commonwealth Turf Cup, splitting horses before the eighth pole and finally sending Lagynos to the winner’s circle at Churchill Downs.

Lagynos finished three-quarters of a length ahead of second-place Evade, who had nipped him last month in the Bryan Station Stakes at Keeneland. The horse with the best finish out of that race, third-place Herchee, regressed Saturday, finishing sixth as 16-1 chance Ak Sar Ben Derby closed late for third in this 1 1/16-mile grass contest for 3-year-olds.

Trained by Steve Asmussen for Sultan Bin Mishal Al Saud, Lagynos came into the Commonwealth with two thirds and two seconds, including a neck loss in the Hall of Fame Stakes at Saratoga, in a campaign that began Jan. 1 at Oaklawn Park. Nearly 11 months later, Lagynos, a son of Kantharos and the Speightstown mare Steamy, still is going strong. On Saturday, for the first time this season, there was no need to rue a missed opportunity.

“He’s maintained this level all year long. He showed up all the time; it was just one little thing after another,” Asmussen said. “Just so good to be able to see him show his best and win this race today.”

Lagynos clocked 1:40.83, a stakes record, over a firm turf course, and, well bet, paid $9.12.

My Boy Prince and Piper’s Factor volleyed for the lead, the first half-mile going in a solid 47.34 as Prat had Lagynos positioned in sixth, two paths from the fence. The field bunched into the turn, Lagynos creeping closer at the three-furlong marker, Prat waiting patiently for room to operate. The field spread in upper stretch, Lagynos made his move, and when Prat steered inside, he found a gap between My Boy Prince and Piper’s Factor. Lagynos went willingly through and on to victory – an overdue one.

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