Lagynos Back for More in Mint Millions Invitational

Three horses with an affinity for the undulating, sweeping grass course at Kentucky Downs—local stakes winners Goliad , Brilliant Berti , and Lagynos —square off in a competitive, 13-horse renewal of the $2.5 million Mint Millions Invitational (G3T) over a mile there Sept. 6.

The speedy California-based Goliad went 2-for-2 over the Southern Kentucky course in 2024, taking the Sticker Mule Overnight Handicap and later the Mint Millions; Brilliant Berti captured the 2024 Gun Runner Stakes in his only Kentucky Downs appearance; and Lagynos is 2-for-3 locally, most recently taking the restricted $500,000 Tapit Stakes by 5 1/4 lengths on the current meet's opening day, Aug. 28.

Trainer Steve Asmussen wheels Prince Sultan Bin Mishal Al Saud's Lagynos back quickly, as he suggested he would do in a post-race interview after the Tapit.

"If they like the course, they like the course," the Hall of Famer said. "We've got until next year to freshen him up."

The infrequent rainfall in Kentucky over the past few weeks has led to highly firm conditions, which have generated fast times. Lagynos, a 4-year-old son of Kantharos  , was credited with a course-record time by Equibase of 1:36.10 for a mile and 70 yards in the Tapit. Amid the introduction of a new timing system, no new track records are being acknowledged by the track at this time.

Times, particularly for turf races, can be further impacted by gate placement and the amount of run-up before the official distance of the race.

Jose Ortiz returns aboard Lagynos, a $1.2 million earner.

Goliad, an 8-year-old War Front   gelding owned by Ramona Bass and Perry Bass II, is another fond of firm ground. He seems the one to catch from his inside post under Flavien Prat, who was aboard in the Mint Millions last year.

Goliad will seek to rebound from a trio of rear-half finishes since, though two of those were in grade 1s. He was most recently sixth in the June 14 Daytona Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park for Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella.

Klein Racing's Brilliant Berti brings sharper form into Saturday's race, having won two of four starts this year for trainer Cherie DeVaux, including the June 28 Wise Dan Stakes (G2T) over a scratch-reduced field at Churchill Downs.

Other leading contenders include dual 2025 grade 1 winner Spirit of St Louis , seeking to rebound from a couple of lackluster summer performances at Saratoga Race Course, plus Cairo  and Point Lynes, two horses with considerable European experience.

Beverly D. Starters Hold Class Edge in Ladies Marathon

The Mint Millions, carded as the seventh race at 2:55 CT, is the second of six consecutive stakes worth at least $2 million on Saturday. It follows the kickoff stakes race of the sequence, the Ladies Marathon Invitational (G3T), which goes as the sixth race on the 12-race card.

There, 11 fillies and mares are entered to race 1 5/16 miles, one lap around the pear-shaped Kentucky Downs course.

Last-out participants from the Aug. 9 Beverly D. Stakes (G2T) at Colonial Downs—runner-up Spanish Eyes , fourth-place Duvet Day , and fifth-place Beach Bomb —appear formidable in the Ladies Marathon. Quick-returning local allowance optional claiming winners Stellify  and Miwa  seem to be further threats given their favorable course experience.

Of this quintet, only Kentucky-bred Stellify is competing for the full $2 million purse. Like other stakes on Saturday at Kentucky Downs, $1 million of the race's prize money represents a supplement for Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund-eligible horses.