Record chase: Asmussen moves within 21 wins of Baird

With three winners in maiden races Sunday, Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen moved within 21 of the late Dale Baird for the most North American victories by a Thoroughbred trainer.

Asmussen’s wins came at Monmouth Park from 2-year-old colt Bonus Appreciation (3-1) in a five-furlong sprint and in turf races at Lone Star Park from 3-year-old colt Potus (9-2) going 1 3/8 miles and 3-year-old filly Gran Manna (4-5) in a 7 1/2-furlong claiming race.

Asmussen’s career total reached 9,424 wins compared with Baird’s 9,445.

With eight of his horses competing on closing day at Lone Star, three at Ellis Park, two at Belmont Park and one at Monmouth, Asmussen was 14: 3-2-2 on Sunday.

Asmussen does not have any horses entered for races Monday. He has three on deck Tuesday at Louisiana Downs, including two morning-line favorites. Willa Sue (9-5), a 3-year-old filly, is expected to be the top choice in the third race, a $5,000 maiden claiming contest. The 3-year-old filly Bankable (4-1) is the co-second choice in the fifth race, a one-mile turf allowance. Four-time winner Ignis (1-1), a 4-year-old filly, is favored in the seventh, a five-furlong, $12,500 claiming race on the turf.

At the rate of 1.54 wins per day that he has maintained this year, Asmussen is on pace to break Baird’s record on or around July 25.

The world record is still perhaps 2 1/2 years away from Asmussen’s grasp. He trails the still-active Peru-based trainer Juan Suárez Villarroel’s total of 9,863, according to the website Página de Turf. Since last fall Suárez Villarroel has averaged 0.75 wins per day, meaning Asmussen at the current rate could close the gap by around New Year’s Day 2023.