‘True Blessing’: Three Generations Of Asmussen Family Celebrate Texas Thoroughbred Futurity Victory

What a proud moment for the Asmussen family when jockey Keith James, son of the winning Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen and grandson of winning owner Keith Asmussen, won his first stakes race on Tuesday night at Lone Star Park. The young rider guided Super Stock to victory in the $100,000 Texas Thoroughbred Futurity; it was just his fifth career victory as well.

Favorite Super Stock ($5.60), a Kentucky-bred son of Dialed In raced between horses with the pace before shaking clear at the top of the stretch and going on to win by three and a half lengths over Lucky Promise ($7.50) in second and Hulen ($2.80) third. Final time for the five and a half furlong stake was 1:04.95 over a fast track.

What a celebration it was in the winner circle! You've never seen prouder parents, Steve and Julie Asmussen congratulating their first born son on his first stakes win. His grandparents Marilyn and Keith were certainly watching from their home in Laredo, Texas, as well.

“Every aspect of his connections having a family affair means the world to me,” said jockey Keith James Asmussen.

“Racing has given us so many blessings as a family,” said winning Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. “And just speaking to my mom and dad after the race, you know to be able to make your parents that happy in the circumstances in which it happens with Keith James riding for them is a true blessing.”

This was also Super Stock's first career win. His initial start was last month at Keeneland on a yielding turf course which he didn't care for. He returned to Lone Star and ran second in an open Maiden Special Weight. Third time was definitely the charm for everyone involved!

Super Stock earned $68,188 breaking his maiden in this futurity.

Full order of finish behind the first three was Policy Limit in fourth followed by Island Sun, Bobby Brinkley, K C Tiz Moro, Stans Hookin Bull and Redbird's Interest.

The post ‘True Blessing’: Three Generations Of Asmussen Family Celebrate Texas Thoroughbred Futurity Victory appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

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

‘A Dream Come True’ As Keith James Asmussen Rides First Winner

You couldn't have witnessed a prouder moment than that of Hall of Fame trainer, Steve Asmussen and his wife Julie watching their first born son, Keith James Asmussen, ride his first winner in the nightcap at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas, on Sunday.

Sunday was Stars of Texas Day featuring two $75,000 stakes races celebrating Texas-bred horses, but the most exciting race of the day was the finale when Keith won by just a head at the wire aboard Inis Gulaire. The entire place erupted in screams and cheers, more than witnessed here in recent memory.

Keith rode his first race at Lone Star on June 15, and had ridden a total of sixteen races finishing 2nd four times and third twice. It wasn't until race number 17 that he finally caught the elusive victory.

A beaming Keith was almost speechless after the win but managed to get out an excited, “It's a dream come true.” He then added, “You know Lone Star has been open for 24 years and I'm 22. My earliest memories are of coming here, so to get a win here is just surreal.”

Inis Gulaire, a 3-year-old son of Bernardini is trained by his father, Steve who said, “You know the amazing horses we've had and how blessed we've been, this is the greatest win we've ever had.”

After the celebration's finally wrapped up in the winner's circle fellow jockeys scooped Keith up in their arms and marched him to the paddock for a dip in the fountain, a tradition here for a rider's first win at Lone Star.

The post ‘A Dream Come True’ As Keith James Asmussen Rides First Winner appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights