12/21/2008

Asmussen becomes first to reach 600 wins in one year
from brisnet.com

Steve Asmussen became the first trainer to win 600 Thoroughbred races in a single year when sending out Storm Trust (Storm Boot) to win Thursday night's 5TH race at Delta Downs. The 43-year-old horseman entered the day with 596 wins and won three races Thursday afternoon at Fair Grounds.

Asmussen now shows 600 wins from 2,909 starts in 2008, a 21 percent success rate, and more than $23.9 million in earnings. On November 23, he broke his previous mark of 555 wins in a season. His previous 555-win season came in 2004, when he shattered Hall of Famer Jack Van Berg's record of 496 victories in a single year that had stood since 1976.

Asmussen has enjoyed a banner year in terms of quality as well. His stable star, 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin, became North America's all-time leading money winners with more than $10.5 million in earnings and recorded major wins in the Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1), Stephen Foster H. (G1), Woodward S. (G1) and Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1). Asmussen's other major performers included Student Council, Pyro, J Be K and Zanjero.

Born in Gettysburg, South Dakota, Asmussen grew up with Thoroughbreds. His parents, Keith and Marilyn, are both trainers, and Asmussen took out his jockey's license at age 16, riding for three years before retiring due to weight. His brother, Cash, was the champion apprentice jockey in the United States in 1979, and eventually moved his tack to Europe, where he became a champion jockey.

In February, Asmussen became just the eighth trainer to score 4,000 wins, and he's now well on his way to 5,000.

In brief

Bob and Beverly Lewis' BAI AND BAI (Falstaff) had finished behind Spenditallbaby (Unusual Heat) in the pair's last three meetings. On Saturday at Hollywood Park, the Craig Dollase trainee was determined not to be left behind again as she held on late in the $77,225 Cat's Cradle H. to record a head victory over Spenditallbaby. Aaron Gryder guided the five-year-old mare through a bit of trouble, as she was forced to steady heading into the turn and then had to wait entering the stretch. Bai and Bai came out in upper stretch, grabbed a small lead over longtime pacesetter Gambler's Justice (Lit de Justice) and then just held a rallying Spenditallbaby to finish up 7 1/2 furlongs on the Cushion Track in 1:27 4/5. The chestnut mare's last win came in the E.B. Johnston S. on the dirt at Fairplex Park, and she now boasts a 28-11-7-4 line to go along with $724,983 in lifetime earnings...

Double Eagle Racing Stable's ASKMETODANCE (Ghostly Moves) tracked the pacesetter early before taking over and scoring a three-quarter of a length win in the $125,000 La Coneja H. at Sunland Park on Saturday. The Ray Ashford Jr.-conditioned gray ran 5 1/2 furlongs under Joe Martinez on the fast dirt in 1:04 2/5 to push her record to 9-6-1-2, $296,960. Askmetodance now owns four stakes wins, including the La Senora H. at Sunland...

West Point Thoroughbreds' MERUS MIAMI (Friends Lake) raced in last early, was forced five wide while circling rivals heading into the stretch, but continued to battle down the lane for a length victory in Saturday's $75,000 Gold Rush S. at Golden Gate Fields. The juvenile colt, with Alex Bisono in the irons, completed a mile on the Tapeta in 1:38 2/5 while making just his second career start. The bay captured his racing debut on November 2 over this surface and has accumulated $62,400 in earnings...

G. Watts Humphrey Jr.'s homebred STEP OUT SMARTLY (Came Home) came five wide into the stretch of the $50,000 Gowell S. at Turfway Park on Saturday, took command and pulled off to post a 1 1/4-length win with jockey Bill Troilo aboard. The Rusty Arnold trainee, who broke her maiden by five lengths in her second career start on November 16, finished up six furlongs on the Polytrack in 1:11 3/5. Making her stakes debut in this spot, the dark bay lass has now banked $56,176 and owns a 3-2-0-0 record...

Canterbury Park has received approval to conduct a 62-day Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse meet in 2009 from the Minnesota Racing Commission. The meet will begin May 15 and run through August 30, with Thursday and Friday post times of 7 p.m. (CT) and weekend and holiday post times of 1:30 p.m. The schedule features five less racing days than 2008 offered. "The current economic situation dictated a shorter race meet next year," Canterbury Park President Randy Sampson said. "We are proud of our facility and racing surface and maintain a very good working relationship with the horseman. I am confident they will continue to race at Canterbury." The Shakopee, Minnesota, venue will play host the 11th annual Claiming Crown on July 25 and the Minnesota Festival of Champions on the final day of the meet...

Hawthorne officials canceled live racing for Sunday due to forecasted wintry weather. Turfway Park officials also canceled Sunday racing because of predicted strong winds and single-digit wind chill temperatures. Racing is expected to resume on December 26 for both tracks