Jockey Keith Asmussen Passes His Dad with 64th Career Victory

Jockey Keith Asmussen recorded his 64th career victory in Saturday's opener at Oaklawn, eclipsing the total of his father, Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, during his riding career.

Keith Asmussen, fittingly, reached the milestone on a horse trained by his father, Hern, who won the 1 1/16-mile claiming race.

“Couldn't be more excited for today and the rest of the meet,” Keith Asmussen said.

Steve Asmussen rode 63 winners in 1982-1984, according to Equibase. 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.

Asmussen's younger brother, Erik, 21, made his Oaklawn riding debut in Saturday's first race and finished sixth aboard What a Country for his father.

“It was awesome to get to ride with my brother,” Keith Asmussen added.

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Angel of Empire Gearing Up for 4-Year-Old Campaign – ‘We’re Expecting a Big Year From Him’

Angel of Empire (Classic Empire), a powerful winner of this spring's GI Arkansas Derby and a rallying third as the favorite in the GI Kentucky Derby, has returned to training at WinStar Training Center and is expected to rejoin trainer Brad Cox at either Fair Grounds or Oaklawn Park within the next month.

The Albaugh Family Stables colorbearer was given a freshening after concluding his six-race sophomore campaign with a dead-heat fourth-place finish in the GI Belmont S. June 10 and a close third-place finish in a roughly run renewal of the GII Jim Dandy S. in the slop at Saratoga July 29. Angel of Empire was also a come-from-behind winner of the GII Risen Star S. at Fair Grounds Feb. 18.

“The Triple Crown is a big ask to get through all those races and he never really had a break since he started,” Albaugh Family Stable's General Manager Jason Loutsch said.

“We try to listen to our horses. After the Jim Dandy, he came back and you could tell he had enough. We did the right thing–we obviously would've liked to press on and make the Breeders' Cup–but we gave him some time and thought that he could have a really big 4-year-old season. We're excited to get him going. I think he'll be one of the top handicap horses next year if he continues to go forward. He's doing really well right now.”

Angel of Empire, one of four graded winners for young sire Classic Empire, is the first foal out of the 7-year-old To Honor and Serve mare Armony's Angel, who brought $1.8 million from Katsumi Yoshida while in foal to Gun Runner at last month's Fasig-Tipton November Sale.

Bred in Pennsylvania by Forgotten Land Investment Inc. and Black Diamond Equine Corp., Angel of Empire was purchased by Dennis Albaugh's operation for just $70,000 during the eighth session of the Keeneland September Yearling sale. He previously RNA'd for $32,000 as a Keeneland November weanling.

“He'll get a start around March or so and we'll probably target something on (Kentucky) Derby Day,” Loutsch said. “The end goal would be to try to get to the Breeders' Cup.”

Loutsch concluded, “He's such a cool horse and he tries hard every time. He deserved the time off and we're expecting a big year from him.”

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HISA And Oaklawn Park Designate Area For Intra-Articular Injection Treatments

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority and Oaklawn Park have launched a new pilot program under which a designated area will be available for veterinarians to administer any intra-articular corticosteroid injections at the racetrack during the track's 2023-2024 race season beginning Friday, Dec. 8, HISA said in a press release Wednesday.

As HISA laid out in its Strategic Response to recent equine fatalities, many stakeholders, including a significant number of individuals calling into HIWU's confidential tip line, have questioned whether Covered Persons are properly and accurately reporting intra-articular corticosteroid injections.

In order to address this issue and ensure injections are administered in compliance with HISA's Anti-Doping and Medication Control regulations, HISA proposed two possible solutions: (1) a designated area at the racetrack for all intra-articular injections to be administered; or (2) the requirement of a short video of the veterinarian performing the intra-articular injection to be uploaded with the injection report.

Oaklawn has volunteered to test the first of these potential solutions. Under this pilot program, Oaklawn will offer a designated private location at its Summer Bird Barn for intra-articular injections and will compensate Covered Persons who volunteer to have them administered there up to $250 for the first 100 intra-articular corticosteroid injections this season.

All intra-articular corticosteroid injections prescribed and administered by a veterinarian at Oaklawn must be observed in-person by the track's Integrity Officer, Beverly Fowler, or another designated racetrack employee, regardless of whether it is administered in the designated location.

The pilot program will be used to determine the feasibility and value of this approach, as well as to identify challenges that would need to be resolved for it to be successful nationally.

“HISA is thankful for Oaklawn Park's willingness to test this process, which has been used successfully in sport horses for many years,” said HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus. “By testing this concept, the Oaklawn team is contributing meaningfully to HISA's efforts to make the sport safer and more transparent. Based on horsemen and veterinarian feedback and results, designated intra-articular injection treatment areas may eventually be presented to the Racetrack Safety Committee to consider promulgating a uniform rule.”

“Oaklawn Park is pleased to be a leader in equine health and safety,” said Louis Cella, President, Oaklawn Park. “It is clear to us that the sport must evolve and continue to do everything in its power to keep horses safe. We support HISA's efforts to explore new methods of ensuring safety and integrity and we appreciate our horsemen's support and engagement.”

Prior to each intra-articular injection at Oaklawn this season, the trainer or veterinarian must inform the Integrity Officer of the day and time it will be administered to ensure she or a designee are present. Injection appointments may be scheduled by calling the Integrity Officer at (501) 762-3864.

The veterinarian and Integrity Officer, or their designee, must fill out and sign an accompanying form and submit photos of the medication that is being injected. A copy of the form will be provided to the veterinarian administering the injection, the trainer, the Integrity Officer's office and the State Veterinarian.

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America’s Day at the Races Expands Oaklawn Coverage

America's Day at the Races, the national telecast produced by New York Racing Association in partnership with FOX Sports, will expand its coverage of racing from Oaklawn Park when the Arkansas track opens for its 2023-24 meet Friday.

As part of a multi-year agreement, America's Day at the Races will feature daily analysis and handicapping of Oaklawn Park racing as well on-site coverage from NYRA television personalities throughout opening weekend, Smarty Jones weekend, Rebel weekend, Arkansas Derby weekend, Apple Blossom weekend and Oaklawn H. weekend.

Live racing returns to Oaklawn Park Friday and continues through May 4. The meet is highlighted by the $1.5-million GI Arkansas Derby Mar. 30.

Additionally, NYRA and Oaklawn Park will offer a new Cross Country Pick 5 wager each day when both Aqueduct Racetrack and Oaklawn Park conduct racing. The special wager will first be offered Dec. 8.

The Cross Country Pick 5 requires bettors to pick the winner of five select races from Aqueduct and Oaklawn. The minimum bet for the multi-track, multi-race wager is 50 cents.

Wagering on the Cross Country Pick 5 is available on ADW platforms and at simulcast facilities across the country with each day featuring a mandatory payout of the net pool.

For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

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