The $286,005 Commonwealth Stakes (G3T) Nov. 23 at Churchill Downs was a tale of two trips.
Lagynos—under North America's leading rider by earnings, Flavien Prat—found a seam between horses in early stretch and outkicked Evade, who tossed his head while rank early and circling wide under Luan Machado. The winner prevailed by three-quarters of a length in the 1 1/16-mile turf race for 3-year-olds.
The victory for Lagynos was long overdue after nine losses in as many starts this year. He had run competitively, however, with two seconds and two thirds. Among those was a runner-up finish, beaten a neck, in the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes (G2T) this summer at Saratoga Race Course.
"For him to run at this level since the spring and all year long, and then put it together today, I think he's a very deserving horse," Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen said.
Sixth early in the field of eight, about three lengths behind pacesetter My Boy Prince as that one set moderate splits of :23.08 and :47.34, Lagynos raced two wide with cover for much of the race. He was behind Evade, who was a handful for Machado in fifth. On the second turn and into the stretch, both horses began to advance on My Boy Prince and a pace-pressing Piper's Factor, who had taken command with six furlongs in 1:11.23.
Prat had followed Piper's Dream, believing he would carve a path for him in the stretch. But when that weakening runner was "not going anywhere, I had to drop in, and I had to split and after that, he got the job done," he said.
Watch: Prat Says After Splitting Horses, Lagynos 'Got The Job Done'
Piper's Factor faded to fourth, edged a neck for the show by Ak Sar Ben Derby, who rallied from last.
Lagynos, a son of Kantharos , ran 1 1/16 miles over firm turf in a stakes-record time of 1:40.83, capped by a closing sixteenth in :6.08. Heart to Heart held the previous Commonwealth Turf record of 1:41.54, set in 2014.
Lagynos returned $9.12 to win as the third betting choice.
Success Continues for Asmussen in Commonwealth
"He's such a cool horse," Asmussen said of Lagynos, who gave him a record-extending fourth win in the Commonwealth.
North America's all-time winningest trainer, Asmussen captured the race with Inca King (2007), Hot Springs (2018), and Gigante (2023).
For Prat, the Commonwealth was his 52nd graded stakes win of 2024, giving him 19 more than Irad Ortiz Jr., with 5 1/2 weeks remaining in the year. His earnings and stakes success leave Prat positioned to potentially outpoll Ortiz, the leading rider this year by wins, in Eclipse Award voting for outstanding jockey of 2024.
"It's been a great year. Hopefully, we are in a position where we can at least be in the mix for the Eclipse," the rider said.
Earnings, Pedigree
Lagynos, owned by His Royal Highness Prince Sultan Bin Mishal Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, earned $180,350 to bring his earnings to $700,553 from a record of 3-2-3 in 13 starts.
Bred in Kentucky by Robert Spiegel out of the Speightstown mare Steamy, Lagynos is now the second graded stakes winner for his dam, the other being $802,154 earner Vision Perfect (Pollard's Vision).
Agent Chad Schumer bought the chestnut Lagynos for $200,000 at 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 in the Woodford Stakes (G2T) this fall at Keeneland. The Hill 'n' Dale Farms stallion stands for a $12,500 fee in 2025.
