Kantharos Colt Lagynos Breaks Through in Commonwealth Turf

[Wandering Eyes]

In a study of perseverance, Lagynos (c, 3, Kantharos–Steamy, by Speightstown), who has now run in 10 consecutive black-type events this year, finally got one to call his own when capturing the $300,000 GIII Commonwealth Turf Stakes Saturday at Churchill Downs. Last seen fifth in a troubled trip Oct. 26 in the GIII Bryan Station Stakes at Keeneland and seventh in the GIII Nashville Derby Aug. 31 at Kentucky Downs, Lagynos races for HRH Prince Sultan Bin Mishal Al Saud.

“He deserved this win,” said Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen. “[Lagynos has] 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 stayed out of trouble in the Commonwealth Turf. He broke smoothly, settling midpack behind cover and between horses. Up front, King's Plate runner-up My Boy Prince (Cairo Prince) showed the way through :23.08 and :47.34 fractions with two-back Toronto Cup Stakes winner Piper's Factor (The Factor) sitting off his flank, while Bryan Station third Herchee (Twirling Candy) and favored GIII Jockey Club Derby fourth Dashman (Oscar Performance) tracked as a pair.

As the field bunched up on the turn, Lagynos looked full of run but lacked room. When he found a seam in early stretch, he dashed through and sailed home a convincing winner as Bryan Station fourth Evade (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) chased him home and last-out Hawthorne Derby winner Ak Sar Ben Derby (Tapiture) closed from the very back for third. The final time of 1:40.83 set a new stakes record; the Commonwealth Turf has been run since 2004.

“He broke well and I got him to relax going into the first turn,” said rider Flavien Prat. “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 broke his maiden at first asking 14 months ago at Kentucky Downs before capturing a 1 1/16-mile, off-the-turf allowance at Churchill nearly a year ago to the day. That would be his last win prior to the nine stakes attempts this year leading into the Commonwealth Turf. His on-the-board finishes in 2024 included the GII National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes, the GII American Turf Stakes, and the GIII Transylvania Stakes. Agent Chad Schumer signed for Lagynos for $200,000 at the 2022 Keeneland September sale from the Valkyre Stud consignment.

Pedigree Notes:

Hill 'n' Dale stallion Kantharos is the sire of Lagynos and 10 other graded winners, as well as 43 black-type winners. The son of Lion Heart–himself a two-time winner at Churchill, including in the 2010 GIII Bashford Manor Stakes–has four stakes performers out of Speightstown mares. Lagynos makes it 75 total stakes winners for daughters of the late Speightstown.

Lagynos is the second graded winner out of his unraced dam, Steamy, and the fourth generation of his family in the hands of breeder Robert Spiegel. Steamy's dam, Ruff, raced as a homebred for Spiegel and won, among other races, the 2000 GIII Miss Grillo Stakes on Belmont's inner turf. Steamy's first foal, Vision Perfect (Pollard's Vision), won the 2018 GIII Parx Dash Stakes for Mr. Amore Stables, in addition to five other black-type races. The mare has a 2-year-old filly named She's My Honey (Not This Time), a weanling colt by Golden Pal, and was bred back to Practical Joke for 2025.

 

Flavien Prat with a patient ride aboard Lagynos to win the G3 Commonwealth Stakes! pic.twitter.com/1fn4A4OOSL

— Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) November 23, 2024

Saturday, Churchill Downs
COMMONWEALTH TURF S.-GIII, $286,005, Churchill Downs, 11-23, 3yo, 1 1/16mT, 1:40.83, fm.
1–LAGYNOS, 118, c, 3, by Kantharos
               1st Dam: Steamy, by Speightstown
               2nd Dam: Ruff, by Clever Trick
               3rd Dam: Marked Well, by Well Decorated
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($200,000
Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-HRH Prince Sultan Bin Mishal Al Saud;
B-Robert Spiegel (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen; J-Flavien Prat.
$180,350. Lifetime Record: 13-3-2-3, $700,553. *1/2 to
Vision Perfect (Pollard's Vision), GSW, $802,154.
Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free
Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Evade (Fr), 118, g, 3, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Angel Falls
(GB), by Kingmambo. (€300,000 Ylg '22 ARAUG).
O-Resolute Racing and Qatar Racing; B-Ecurie Des
Monceaux, Ecurie Loick Fouchet, R. Meahjohn, Kastro Stud
Farm (FR); T-Michael J. Maker. $48,500.
3–Ak Sar Ben Derby, 120, g, 3, Tapiture–Mensa Member, by
Flatter. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($67,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP).
O-Millard R. Seldin Revocable Trust; B-Paul Tackett
Revocable Trust (KY); T-John Alexander Ortiz. $29,250.
Margins: 3/4, 1, NK. Odds: 3.56, 5.61, 16.53.
Also Ran: Piper's Factor, My Boy Prince, Herchee, Dashman, Will Take It. Scratched: Telescopic.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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