Steve Asmussen entered Saturday with 13 chances to pass Dale Baird to become the winningest North American trainer of all time. He needed just one.
With his first starter on the day, Asmussen moved into sole possession of first place with a win from first-time-starter Stellar Tap (Tapit) in the fifth race at Saratoga, a maiden special weight race for 2-year-olds. It was the 9,446th win in a career that began quietly in 1986 at Ruidoso Downs in a race worth $2,600.
The win came for Winchell Thoroughbreds, who owns the colt along with L and N Racing LLC. Perhaps no owners have had a greater impact on Asmussen's career than the Winchells, who break their babies at the Texas training center owned by Asmussen's parents, Keith and Marilyn, and have supplied Asmussen with a number of top horses, including Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}). Ricardo Santana, Jr. was the winning rider.
“I know how much this means to me and everyone in the family as well as the barn,” Asmussen said. “And it unfolded and happened on Whitney Day at Saratoga with a 2-year-old who came through Mom and Dad's program in Laredo that is owned by the Winchells. God is great and continues to bless us.”
“Congratulations to Steve on a well deserved accomplishment,” Ron Winchell said. “He has earned every bit of it. His attention to detail is remarkable and reflective in the results. The attention to detail, coupled with a near photographic memory, makes him a lethal competitor.”
Asmussen is the younger brother of Cash Asmussen, who enjoyed a standout career as a jockey, primarily in Europe, and grew up alongside his brother learning the business from their parents.
“To say congratulations does not sound like enough,” he said. “So I will live showing you my love and respect, as a brother, as a man, as a horseman. That is a start to saying how proud I am for you.”
Minutes after the race, Asmussen was still emotional, thanking not just his family but a sport that has given him so much.
“We are so blessed to be in horse racing,” he said. “Thanks to the amazing horses we have had and thanks for everything we have learned from every single one of them. They've made the Asmussen family possible. What an amazing sport to be in. I've said this before, it's amazing what a horse can do to make you feel good about yourself. What a blessing.”
Asmussen was born in Gettysburg, South Dakota, but grew up in Texas. His parents did a little bit of everything in racing but are best known for running a training center in Laredo, where they have prepared numerous top horses for the races. Growing up in a racing family and learning from top horsepeople in his parents, he was born to be a horse trainer. From an early age, he worked for his parents, who, Asmussen says, had a work ethic that is unmatched. Asmussen has always credited them with giving him the foundation he needed to be successful.
“They did things with a passion,” he said. “They always supported me and Cash and that made all of this possible. I've said it before and it's the truth, we are simply an extension of my mom and dad. I plan on continuing on doing things the way they taught us and with the same amount of passion and effort.
“Anybody who has ever been around my father knows he is the greatest horsemen there is. I was blessed to be in a position where I was able to witness this on a daily basis. They demanded work from me. You show up and you take care of what you are supposed to take care of. Don't do anything you can't sign your name to and always pay attention to every detail. None of it was easy but everyone was passionate and you did everything you did as hard as you could all the time and not some of the time. That's the way it ought to be.”
Asmussen started out as a jockey and rode 63 winners. In 1986, he went out on his own as a trainer and did not get off to a good start. He won just one race in 1986 and his stable earned all of $2,324. Asmussen didn't hit his stride until the late 90s. He won 120 races in 1999 and never looked back. His exploits include a single-season record 650 wins in 2009.
His operation, which has included Grade I winners, Horses of the Year and innumerable $5,000 claimers running at C-level tracks, became so potent over the years that it became apparent that Baird's record was well within his reach. Baird, who won the vast majority of his races at Waterford Park, now known as Mountaineer Park, died in 2007, the result of a car accident.
When asked what the Steve Asmussen of 1986 would say to the Asmussen of 2021, he replied: “I can't believe it took you so long. You can't imagine how much you want to do this and how much it is in you. Let's keep it up. We better not be done winning today. It's Whitney Day. We need to win.”
Considering that Asmussen is just 55 and that there are far fewer races available around the country now as there were only 10 years ago, he figures to put together a career win total that will never be matched. An upcoming goal might be 10,000 winners. He can also begin the chase to catch trainer Juan Suarez. Based in Peru, Suarez, as of Aug. 5, had 9,897 winners.
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