BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Laigina came with a big run down the outside part of the track to take the $250,000 Lucky Lantern by a length-and-a-quarter at Kentucky Downs Monday. A dozen 3-year-old fillies raced six-and-a-half furlongs on the undulating turf course with Laigina earning her first stakes victory.
The Florida-bred daughter of Leinster also picked up a $4,000 Export Incentive paid by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association paid to breeder Diamond 100 Racing Club.
Ridden to victory by Keith Asmussen, Laigina is co-owned by trainer Patrick Biancone with breeder Green With MV Stable.
Asmussen allowed Laigina to settle behind a calvary charge for the lead, racing in ninth as Lit Chip took the field into the right-hand turn. Spa Prospector raced up to the outside of Lit Chip on the front around the sweeping final turn through quarter-mile splits of :22.55 and :45.41 before Asmussen began navigating Laigina through traffic. Laigina went to the far outside in the lane and hit the front in the final sixteenth, drawing clear to win going away in 1:16.05 on the firm course. Snappy Comeback came on to get second, a half-length in front of Faye’s Gold in third. They were followed in order by Lit Ship, Carolyncaroline, Epic Lady Luck, Just a Minute, Scratch It, Pillar of Beauty, Mon Reve, Spa Prospector and Oscar’s Encore. Life’s Dynamic, Paris Carver, Rocket Rania, Sapphire Beach (Ire) were scratched.
Laigina went off at 8-1 and paid $18.54 to win.
“The filly handled the course beautifully,” Asmussen said. “She’d been galloping in the morning here with [wife] Andie [Biancone] and I’ve been watching her train. It looked like she really handled the gyrations of the course. Down the hill, she seemed to really love it. It’s awesome when a plan comes together.”
Laigina had previously been second three times going a mile in turf stakes at Gulfstream Park, just missing the $84,000 Miss Gracie by a half length to Call the Bullpen on August 22. She was also second to Spirit Doll in the $85,000 Honey Ryder on May 2 and behind only Sister Troienne in last year’s $155,000 Ginger Brew (Listed) in December.
Laigina has now won three of 11 career starts with three second and a third and the $138,725 winning check in the Lucky Lantern increased her lifetime earnings to $304,710.
Laigina is out of the winning Brother Derek mare Patriotic Brother, who has three winners from four starters and five foals, including stakes-placed Florida-bred Diamond Cool, by Prospective. Patriotic Brother is a half-sister to stakes-winner Patriotic Diva, dam of multiple graded-stakes winning millionaire Diamond Oops and stakes-winning, stakes-producer Patriotic Diamond.
