Hall of Fame trainer and North American all-time wins leader Steve Asmussen will be chasing more milestones during the 2023-2024 Oaklawn meeting that opens Friday.
Asmussen is also being chased by his son.
Jockey Keith Asmussen has 63 career victories, matching his father's career riding total in 1982-1984, according to Equibase, racing's official data gathering organization.
The passing of the whip could come quickly since Keith Asmussen is named on 13 horses Friday and Saturday at Oaklawn, including 10, fittingly, trained by his father.
“That's funny as hell,” Steve Asmussen said. “We're tied. His next win, he goes by me.”
Steve Asmussen turned to training after he became too heavy to ride. Keith Asmussen, 25, launched his full-time riding career in late 2022 after earning a master's degree in professional accounting earlier in the year from the University of Texas' McCombs School of Business.
Keith Asmussen has 56 victories this year. He rode six winners in 2020 and one in 2022 before his breakout performance last season at Oaklawn. Asmussen rode 25 winners to finish ninth in the standings and now looks to one up the man who has strongly supported his riding career.
“I'll pass him,” Keith Asmussen said with a laugh.
Keith Asmussen's post-Oaklawn highlights included a November to remember. He rode Private Creed for the first time and guided the millionaire turf standout to a Nov. 9 allowance victory at Churchill Downs and recorded his biggest career victory aboard Ryvit in the $300,000 Steel Valley Sprint Stakes Nov. 20 at Mahoning Valley. Both horses are trained by Steve Asmussen.
“(Private Creed) is by far the best horse I've ever been on and I had been around the horse since he was a 2-year-old, when I was still galloping, before I was even riding,” Keith Asmussen said.
Keith Asmussen won three races last season at Oaklawn aboard Ryvit, including the $150,000 Bachelor Stakes, and is scheduled to ride him in Saturday's $150,000 Ring the Bell Stakes.
“Obviously, very excited,” Keith Asmussen said. “I think the horse is doing very well. Looking forward to the opportunity.”
The Bachelor was Keith Asmussen's first career Oaklawn stakes victory.
During the 2022-2023 Oaklawn meeting, Steve Asmussen became the first trainer to reach 10,000 career North American victories and surpassed the late Bob Holthus to become Oaklawn's all-time winningest trainer. Steve Asmussen (995) is now poised to reach 1,000 career victories as a trainer and owner at Oaklawn. He has 876 victories as a trainer and 119 as an owner.
The post ‘His Next Win, He Goes By Me’: Keith Asmussen Chasing Hall Of Fame Father’s Riding Milestone appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
