Sure, it must not have felt great to his connections when Lagynos lost three turf stakes with combined purses of more than $1 million by a combined margin of two lengths at the Churchill Downs spring meeting. What those two thirds and a second did, however, was keep Lagynos eligible for the $500,000 Tapit Stakes on Thursday, opening day at Kentucky Downs, and Lagynos took no prisoners in the Tapit.
Overmatching rivals in a race restricted to horses without a 2025 stakes win, Lagynos traveled like a winner every step of the one-mile-and-70-yard contest, stalking from third before cruising to the lead with about a quarter mile remaining. No one came close to him, Lagynos stretching his advantage to 5 1/4 lengths at the wire, Jose Ortiz barely asking for anything.
Ortiz got his mount pulled up, came back to the space that doubles as the paddock and winner’s circle, and got his picture taken for the fourth time in 10 races on the Thursday program. Easy money.
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Far behind Lagynos, Ohana Honor edged Cameo Performance for place, though both horses might’ve fouled fifth-place finisher Nineeleventurbo at the furlong grounds. No inquiry or objection was posted.
Lagynos stayed far from the fray while winning for the first time since capturing the age-restricted, off-turf Woodchopper this past December at Fair Grounds. Seventh last Kentucky Downs season in the Nashville Derby, Lagynos had won his career debut over the course in 2023, and trainer Steve Asmussen had the 4-year-old colt primed for this class drop from the Grade 1 Fourstardave on Aug. 2, a race in which Lagynos had finished seventh.
Nine horses ran after seven were scratched, all of whom race Sunday in a $500,000 handicap at Kentucky Downs. Lagynos, heavily bet in the last wagering cycle, paid $5 and clocked 1:36.10, a course record that came on a very, very fast-playing firm turf course. Lagynos campaigns for HRH Prince Sultin bin Mishal al Saud. A son of Kantharos and Speighty, by Speightstown, Lagynos was bred in Kentucky by Robert Spiegel.
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