Lagynos Gives Asmussen and Morales Second Consecutive Woodchopper; Wild Bout Hilary Unaccosted in Pago Hop
New Orleans, La (Dec. 28, 2024) – Saturday’s stakes action at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots included two 1 1/16 miles affairs for 3-year-olds, the $100,000 Wood Chopper and the $100,000 Pago Hop for fillies. Scheduled for the turf but taken off due to heavy rains, both stakes were contested over a sloppy main track.
For the second consecutive year trainer Steve Asmussen teamed up with Edgar Morales to win the Woodchopper, as HRH Prince Sultan Bin Mishal Al Saud’s Lagynos proved much the best over nine foes. The trainer and jockey combination won last year’s edition with Gigante. Through 40 runnings of the Woodchopper, Asmussen has now captured four titles.
“Thank you to the owners and thank you to Steve for two years in a row winning this stake,” Morales said. “He broke great, settled perfectly behind the speed. When I tipped to the inside and he saw the clear, he took off.”
Wrapped up crossing the finish line, Lagynos won by 2 1/4 lengths, clocking in at 1:44.80.
After breaking sharply, Lagynos conceded the early lead to Camaro Z and Le Gris who took turns leading the pack until Le Gris took command in the far turn. Traveling comfortably in the pocket behind them, Lagynos waited patiently for daylight and when he found it at the 1/8th pole, he surged forward and pulled away. Tough Little Nut rallied late for second. Higgins Boat held for third over a fading Le Gris.
Lagynos paid $8.40, $5.20, and $3.60.
Exiting a win in the Commonwealth Turf (G3) at Churchill Downs, Lagynos has amassed $760,553 in career earnings with a 14-4-2-3 record.
Unaccosted in the $100,000 Pago Hop, 5 Finger Racing’s Wild Bout Hilary strided out to the front and never broke a sweat as her five 3-year-old foes left her alone on the lead throughout. Wild Bout Hilary covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:46.21 under jockey C.J. McMahon. The Midnight Lute filly trained by Tanner Tracy finished 5 1/4 lengths ahead of the post-time favorite Wild About Marie, who was taken back to last out of the gates but then made a late run.
“I’d like to thank Mr. Tanner and my agent Anthony Martin for putting me in the right spot and having her ready,” McMahon said. “When I worked her last week, she did everything I wanted and had a lot left in the gallop out, so when I came in and saw the scratches I thought, I’m going to take it to them.”
Sent off at 4-1, Wild Bout Hilary paid $10.60, $4.20, and $3.20. Past Tense ran third and Gavea (Ger) finished fourth.
“(Wild Bout Hilary) ran a big race today,” Tracy said. “ She got out there and didn’t look back,” Tracy said.
Making the Pago Hop her first stakes score, Wild Bout Hilary’s career record now tallies 12-5-0-1 with $155,340 in purses.
Stakes action at Fair Grounds picks back up on Sunday with two editions of the $100,000 Louisiana Futurity, one written specifically for fillies. First post is 12:45 p.m. CT.
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About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, one of the nation’s oldest racetracks, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, La, Fair Grounds, which is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN), also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 15 off-track betting parlors throughout Southeast Louisiana. The 153rd Thoroughbred Racing Season–highlighted by the 112th running of the Louisiana Derby–will run from Nov. 22, 2024 through March 23, 2025. More information is available online at www.fgno.com.
