The brilliant Lagynos added yet another stakes win to lengthy resume on Saturday when successful in the Grade 3 Fair Grounds Stakes to push his earnings over the $1.8 million mark.
The Kantharos 5yo won by over two lengths from Montador with Kupuna picking up another Graded stakes placing in third.
Lagynos was a $200,000 yearling purchase by Chad Schumer out of the Valkyre Stud draft at the 2022 Keeneland September Sale while Kupuna is out of Schumer Bloodstock purchase Hanalei Hailey, who was bought for just $20,000 while in foal to Maclean’s Music at the 2021 Keeneland November Sale.
“My horse broke well and was able to put him in a forward position,” jockey Jose Ortiz said. “When I had to ask him to go, he was there for me the entire way. We were a little worried going this far before. I just had to try to go at the right time. When I asked him to go he responded beautifully.”
“He’s a lovely horse, we’re very fortunate to have him,” Steve Asmussen said. “Jose [Ortiz] did a great job to help him get this distance. He relaxed beautifully and kicked home powerfully.”
Lagynos has been a real star for Steve Asmussen. In addition to the Fair Grounds, his wins include the Grade 3 Commonwealth Cup at Churchill Downs, the Listed Woodchopper Stakes at Fair Grounds and the Tapit Stakes at Kentucky Downs alongside a series of stakes placings.
He was bred by Robert Spiegel out of Steamy, by Speightstown.
His win came on the same day that Wafei (American Pharoah), a Keeneland September yearling purchase who went on to resell with Church Farm Stables at the Arqana May Breeze-Up Sale, won again in Qatar for Wathnan Racing.
Over in Saudi Arabia, OBS 2yo March purchase Waqtuk (Not This Time) ran a great race to be third in the Listed Tuwaiq Cup on the Saudi Cup undercard.
