Trainer Steve Asmussen won his 6,000th career race in the opener on Friday at
Remington Park when Basalt broke his maiden in a seven-furlong sprint. Asmussen,
who was celebrating his 46th birthday Friday, became just the fifth trainer in
the history of Thoroughbred racing to reach 6,000 career scores. Basalt is owned
by long-time client Winchell Thoroughbreds of Las Vegas and was ridden by Lindey
Wade.
Asmussen, whose career stable earnings exceed $185 million, scored victory
number 6,001 later in the Remington card when Letsgetitonmon captured the fifth
race.
Asmussen won the Eclipse Award for outstanding trainer in both 2008 and 2009
and has trained a pair of Horses of the Year in Curlin (2007-2008) and Rachel
Alexandra (2009). He also trained Kodiak Kowboy to a champion male sprinter
title in 2009.
At the recent Breeders’ Cup at Churchill Downs, Asmussen saddled My Miss
Aurelia to take the Grade 1 Juvenile Fillies and Regally Ready to win the Grade
2 Turf Sprint. My Miss Aurelia is expected to be named champion two-year-old
filly after an undefeated season which also included victories in the Grade 1
Frizette Stakes and Grade 2 Adirondack Stakes.
The late Dale Baird is the all-time winningest trainer with 9,445. The next
four on the list — all active — are Jack Van Berg (6,409), King Leatherbury
(6,331), Jerry Hollendorfer (6,057) and Asmussen. The win totals reflect action
through Friday.