Less than two years after setting the record for North American wins for a trainer, Racing Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen is closing in on another career milestone.
Asmussen enters the week with 9,997 North American wins. He set the standard for North American victories when he sent out Stellar Tap to victory in the fifth race at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 7, 2021, surpassing the record established by the late Dale Baird. Asmussen is now poised to secure the 10,000th victory of his career this week.
Besides those 9,997 North American victories, Asmussen also has two wins overseas—including Curlin 's victory in the 2008 Dubai World Cup (G1) putting him at 9,999 total career wins.
Asmussen moved within three wins of 10,000 in North America when Spoiler drew off in the stretch of a maiden special weight race Feb. 12 at Sam Houston Race Park. Campaigned by Curtis Green, the 3-year-old son of First Samurai completed 1 1/16 miles on firm turf in 1:45.69 to win by 2 3/4 lengths.
While there will be a bit of a pause in the pursuit as Asmussen doesn't have any horses entered Monday, Feb. 13, or Tuesday, Feb. 14, he will pick up the chase again Wednesday as he has a pair of horses entered at Turfway Park and one entered at Delta Downs. At Turfway he has Therefore I Am in the fifth race, a maiden special weight; and Proud Performer in the sixth race, a maiden claimer. At Delta he has Thoughtsandprayers entered in the sixth race, a claiming event.
As of Monday afternoon, Asmussen had one horse entered for Thursday racing: Flute Master in the third race at Turfway, a maiden special weight test. He has 13 entered Friday, Feb. 17: seven at Oaklawn Park, three at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, two at Sam Houston Race Park, and one at Turfway.
At Oaklawn, Asmussen has Sweet Truffles in the second race, Ottoman Empire in the third, King Doodle in the fourth, Shadow Matter in the sixth, Schmooze in the seventh, and Sky and Sand and Morello in the eighth.
At Fair Grounds he has Brilliant Colors in the second, Back Beat in the fifth, and Medley in the sixth.
At Sam Houston he has Holiday Dreamer and Vivaciously in the third and at Turfway he has Kazan in the fifth.
The next closest active trainer to Asmussen in North American wins is Jerry Hollendorfer at 7,757. Asmussen won Eclipse Awards as outstanding trainer in 2008 and 2009. He won the Preakness Stakes (G1) in 2007 with Curlin and again in 2009 with filly Rachel Alexandra. In 2016 he saddled Creator to a Belmont Stakes (G1) victory.
Asmussen-trained horses have won eight Breeders' Cup races: Curlin in the 2007 Classic (G1) and Gun Runner in the 2017 Classic, Echo Zulu in the 2021 Juvenile Fillies (G1) and My Miss Aurelia in the 2011 edition of that race, Mitole in the 2019 Sprint (G1), Untapable in the 2014 Distaff (G1), Tapizar in the 2012 Dirt Mile (G1), and Regally Ready in the 2011 Turf Sprint (G2T).
