Betting With, and Against, Lagynos in the Arlington Stakes

A talented field of 11 will go postward in the $275,000 Arlington (G3) at Churchill Downs on Saturday. The finale on a huge day of racing will be contested at 1 1/16 miles on the sod, and the one to beat is the surging #3 Lagynos (5-2) for conditioner Steve Asmussen. By Kantharos, the five-year-old has always been a good performer but has elevated his game over the past 12 months. 

Lagynos – With

• $1 trifecta 3 with 5,7,8 with all ($27)
• 50-cent superfecta key 3 with 5,7,8 with 5,7,8 with all ($24)

Lagynos – Against

• $2 trifecta 5,7,8 with 1,5,7,8 with 1,5,7,8 ($36)
• 10-cent superfecta 5,7,8 with 1,5,7,8 with 1,5,7,8 with all ($14.40) 

Lagynos earned in excess of $944,000 in 2025 and seems well on his way to matching or surpassing that number this campaign. The Kentucky-bred sports a 4-3-1-0 mark this year, with a trio of wins in succession leading up to Saturday, which includes a game score in the Opening Verse S. on the local lawn on April 30. He combines tactical speed with a fine turn of foot, and since he is proven at both the distance and on the surface, he will be formidable in the tilt with Jose Ortiz retaining the mount.

#5 Giocoso (20-1) bagged a Grade 3 contest on this surface to close out his sophomore season and will be making his second run of 2026. Keith Desormeaux's pupil is a Grade 2 winner on the green who has excelled since focusing solely on grass races, and while his seasonal bow left something to be desired, the Not This Time colt has ample room to move forward second time back at a big number. Luis Saez will take the reins. 

Defending champ #7 Mercante (8-1) was outrun late behind an impressive winner in the Turf Classic (G1) on Kentucky Derby Day and could be rounding up to a peak run third time off the layoff. The Gun Runner gelding has won or placed in four of his five career efforts on the course and could sit a very good trip here just off the pacesetter, which will give him first run on the later closing types at the top of the lane. Regular rider Joseph Ramos will be in the silks. 

The William Walden-trained #6 Minaret Station (15-1) was a length behind the favorite in his first run of 2026 last time out and goes for a conditioner who is pushing a lot of the right buttons at the current meeting. The homebred son of Instilled Regard captured the American Derby on the surface in June to prove that he likes the strip, and the late runner should get a solid early tempo to rally into in the closing stages of the event, with Christian Torres signed on.