Chasing 10,000: Asmussen wins 1, ends Sunday just 3 shy
With one victory Sunday at Sam Houston Race Park, Steve Asmussen moved within three of becoming the first trainer based in North America to reach 10,000 career wins.
Click here for Oaklawn entries and results.
Jockey Stewart Elliott had Spoiler (7-2) lurking in mid-pack before making a decisive move in the second turn of the second race at the Texas track. The First Samurai colt drew away to finish first by 2 3/4 lengths in a 1 1/16-mile maiden test for 3-year-olds. It was Spoiler’s first time racing on the turf after two off-the-board, main-track finishes last year at Keeneland and Churchill Downs.
Four other Asmussen horses finished out of the money Sunday in three races at Oaklawn as did his odds-on favorite Eagle Express in the seventh at Sam Houston.
Asmussen will resume his pursuit Wednesday night with three entrants at Delta Downs and Turfway Park. He also has one going at Turfway on Thursday. With 13 more horses drawn into races Friday and 17 on Saturday, the 57-year-old South Dakota native seemed likely to reach the milestone by the end of the coming week.
Only one trainer, Perú-based Juan Suárez Villaroel, has passed 10,000 wins. He had 10,328 through Saturday, according to the website Página de Turf.
Equibase said the horses listed below were the ones Asmussen entered for races from Sunday through next Monday. Odds shown were those at post time for races already run and from the morning line for the starts yet to come. Asterisks denote favorites.
| Day | Track | Race no. | Horse | Type | Odds | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Completed | ||||||
| Sun. | OP | 1, 4th place | Stay Fabulous | Mdn clmg | 5-2 | Ricardo Santana Jr. |
| Sun. | HOU | 2, won | Spoiler | MSW | 7-2 | Stewart Elliott |
| Sun. | OP | 6, 5th place | Ship It | Clmg | 6-1 | Keith Asmussen |
| Sun. | OP | 6, 10th place | Martique Miss | Clmg | 17-1 | Ricardo Santana Jr. |
| Sun. | OP | 7, 5th place | Discovery Peak | Mdn clmg | 12-1 | Ricardo Santana Jr. |
| Sun. | HOU | 7, 4th place | Eagle Express | Alw | *3-5 | Stewart Elliott |
| Upcoming, EST | ||||||
| Wed. | DeD | 6, 8:50 p.m. | Thoughtsandprayers | Clmg | 6-1 | Joel Dominguez |
| Wed. | TP | 5, 8:55 p.m. | Therefore I Am | MSW | 6-1 | Joseph Ramos |
| Wed. | TP | 6, 9:25 p.m. | Proud Performer | Mdn clmg | *3-1 | Joseph Ramos |
| Thu. | TP | 3, 6:55 p.m. | Flute Master | MSW | 8-1 | Joseph Ramos |
| Fri. | OP | 2, 2:01 p.m. | Sweet Truffles | Mdn clmg | Ricardo Santana Jr. | |
| Fri. | OP | 3, 2:32 p.m. | Ottoman Empire | Clmg | Keith Asmussen | |
| Fri. | FG | 2, 2:45 p.m. | Brilliant Colors | Mdn clmg | Rey Gutiérrez | |
| Fri. | HOU | 3, 2:54 p.m. | Holiday Dreamer | MSW | 6-1 | Gerardo Mora |
| Fri. | HOU | 3, 2:54 p.m. | Vivaciously | MSW | 5-2 | Stewart Elliott |
| Fri. | OP | 4, 3:03 p.m. | King Doodle | Mdn clmg | 3-1 | Keith Asmussen |
| Fri. | OP | 6, 4:07 p.m. | Shadow Matter | Clmg | 10-1 | Keith Asmussen |
| Fri. | FG | 5, 4:15 p.m. | Back Beat | Clmg | 4-1 | Rey Gutiérrez |
| Fri. | FG | 6, 4:45 p.m. | Medley | Alw | *3-1 | Brian Hernandez Jr. |
| Fri. | OP | 7, 4:38 p.m. | Schmooze | Clmg | 12-1 | Keith Asmussen |
| Fri. | OP | 8, 5:10 p.m. | Morello | Alw | 10-1 | Joel Rosario |
| Fri. | OP | 8, 5:10 p.m. | Sky and Sand | Alw | 20-1 | Isaac Castillo |
| Fri. | TP | 5, 7:55 p.m. | Kazan | Alw OC | Gerardo Corrales | |
| Sat. | FG | 2, 1:30 p.m. | Amisfield | MSW | Tyler Gaffalione | |
| Sat. | HOU | 1, 2:00 p.m. | Noble Honor | Mdn clmg | 6-1 | Stewart Elliott |
| Sat. | FG | 4, 2:30 p.m. | Ornately | MSW | Tyler Gaffalione | |
| Sat. | HOU | 2, 2:30 p.m. | Aisha R N | Alw OC | 7-2 | Stewart Elliott |
| Sat. | FG | 5, 3:00 p.m. | Unload | MSW | Brian Hernandez Jr. | |
| Sat. | FG | 5, 3:00 p.m. | Ocean City | MSW | John Velázquez | |
| Sat. | HOU | 3, 3:00 p.m. | Mano Dura | Alw OC | 6-1 | Iram Diego |
| Sat. | HOU | 3, 3:00 p.m. | Tres Soles | Alw OC | *3-1 | Stewart Elliott |
| Sat. | HOU | 4, 3:30 p.m. | American Xperiment | Alw OC | 4-1 | Stewart Elliott |
| Sat. | HOU | 5, 4:00 p.m. | Bling Bling Bling | Jim’s Orbit | *9-5 | Stewart Elliott |
| Sat. | HOU | 5, 4:00 p.m. | Take My Money | Jim’s Orbit | 10-1 | Leandro Goncalves |
| Sat. | FG | 8, 4:33 p.m. | First Defender | Alw OC | John Velázquez | |
| Sat. | HOU | 7, 5:00 p.m. | Come to the Party | Two Altazano | 12-1 | Stewart Elliott |
| Sat. | FG | 9, 5:05 p.m. | All in Sync | Colonel Power | Tyler Gaffalione | |
| Sat. | FG | 13, 7:14 p.m. | Harlocap | Risen Star (G2) | 8-1 | John Velázquez |
| Sat. | FG | 13, 7:14 p.m. | Private Creed | Risen Star (G2) | 12-1 | Tyler Gaffalione |
| Sat. | FG | 13, 7:14 p.m. | Silver Heist | Risen Star (G2) | 12-1 | Corey Lanerie |
| Sun. | OP | 1, 1:30 p.m. | Cash Rocket | Alw | Keith Asmussen | |
| Sun. | HOU | 2, 2:30 p.m. | Senseofexcellence | MSW | *3-5 | Stewart Elliott |
| Sun. | HOU | 3, 2:32 p.m. | Senseofexcellence | Mdn clmg | Keith Asmussen | |
| Sun. | HOU | 4, 3:30 p.m. | Perfect Prank | Alw OC | 3-1 | Stewart Elliott |
| Sun. | HOU | 7, 5:00 p.m. | Harry | Clmg | 2-1 | Stewart Elliott |
| Sun. | OP | 8, 5:10 p.m. | Disarm | Alw OC | Ricardo Santana Jr. | |
| Sun. | HOU | 8, 5:30 p.m. | Forevamo | Clmg | *9-5 | Stewart Elliott |
| Sun. | HOU | 9, 6:00 p.m. | Hern (MTO) | Alw | *2-1 | Stewart Elliott |
| Sun. | HOU | 9, 6:00 p.m. | Requisition | Alw | 10-1 | Stewart Elliott |
| 2/19 | FG | 8, 5:45 p.m. | Money Run | OC | Brian Hernandez Jr. |