July, 2020 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Keith James Asmussen Gets First Career Win

Calling it “the greatest win we’ve ever had” a little more than 24 hours after saddling a Grade I winner at Saratoga, trainer Steve Asmussen watched as his son Keith James Asmussen earned his first career victory as a jockey, guiding Inis Gulaire (Bernardini) to a head success in the Sunday maiden special weight finale at Lone Star Park (video).

The 22-year-old had ridden 16 races prior to Sunday, with four runner-up efforts–including in his first career ride June 15–and three thirds among them.

“It’s a dream come true,” the jockey said. “You know Lone Star has been open for 24 years and…my earliest memories are of coming here, so to get a win here is just surreal.”

Following the family celebration, Asmussen’s fellow jockeys carried him to the nearby fountain for a dip, a Lone Star tradition to mark a rider’s first win.Courtesty

The post Keith James Asmussen Gets First Career Win appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Dream Quist Becomes First Winner At Stud For Nyquist

Although favored at Churchill Downs last month, Nyquist's 2-year-old filly Dream Quist didn't quite seem to take to the sloppy going in her first start. However, she appears to have learned from the experience as she broke her maiden at Ellis Park to give her Kentucky Derby-winning sire his first winner as a stallion.

Although getting knocked around a bit at the start, Dream Quist didn't waste time getting into position and was soon tracking in third after a quarter of a mile.

As the field approached the turn, she took aim at the leader and sprinted by that one at the top of the stretch. The odds-on favorite passed tiring horses late to grab second but Dream Quist was 4 1/2 lengths clear at the wire.

Dream Quist was bred by Seclusive Farm LLC, Chester and Anne Prince, and James Murphy in Kentucky. She is out of listed winner Seacrettina who is a half to G2-placed Ramsgate.

Dream Quist was a $265,000 yearling at Fasig-Tipton in 2019, a year in which Nyquist was the leading first-crop yearling sire by average. In 2020, he is the leading 2-year-old sire by median.

Nyquist resides at Darley's U.S. base in Lexington, Ky., where he stood the 2020 breeding season for an advertised fee of $40,000.

The post Dream Quist Becomes First Winner At Stud For Nyquist appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Key Takeaways from an Action-Packed Weekend of Racing

Tom Pedulla presents five takeaways from an active weekend of racing, which featured the triumphant return of Maximum Security from an extended layoff in the San Diego Handicap at Del Mar and other key developments:

Revered Race Caller Tom Durkin Was a Master at His Craft

When Tom Durkin walks down Broadway in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., it is almost as if he is stepping back in time. Fans often stop him to remind him of one of his legendary race calls and to express their appreciation for his extraordinary career. Those conversations mean the world to Durkin. “You’re walking down the street and somebody stops you and has something really nice to say to you about you,” said Durkin. “I don’t know that a lot of people go through this world experiencing something like that. It’s one of the great blessings of my life.”