| Steve Asmussen, an ex- jockey who became an | | | | Asmussen obtained 76 of his victories in ranked |
| instructor after going up too big to continue riding | | | | stake competitions, obtaining the trainer 2007 |
| competitively. Asmussen obtained his 4,000th | | | | Horse of the Year Recognition and leading the |
| career victory when J J's Bud won the third | | | | champion - three-year-old male Curlin. |
| competition on Sunday at Oaklawn Park. | | | | Subsequent to posting a 12 3/4-length first |
| The 42- years-old Asmussen got his jockey's | | | | appearance triumph last year in a maiden special |
| license when he was 16 and he spent three years | | | | heaviness race at Gulfstream Park intended for |
| riding in California, New York and New Mexico. | | | | instructor Helen Pitts, Curlin joined Asmussen's |
| Moreover; Steve Asmussen initiated his | | | | shed. The Smart Strik horse succeeds five of his |
| preparation and training career in New Mexico in | | | | next eight starts, including wins in the Breeders' |
| 1986. | | | | Cup Classic Powered by Dodge (G1) and in the |
| Presently, Asmussen who is a native from | | | | Preakness Stakes (G1). |
| Gettysburg, South Dakota but who is now living in | | | | Asmussen's has also been related to the |
| Arlington, Texas keeps an eye on numerous | | | | three-year-old Triple Crown promising Pyro and Z |
| divisions of horses that yearly place him between | | | | Fortune, who are the first- and second-place |
| the leading North American instruction by wins and | | | | finishers, respectively, in the Risen Star Stakes |
| reward earnings. Asmussen had 22 starters at six | | | | (G3) at Fair Grounds on February 9th. |
| different paths this past Saturday. | | | | Keith, Asmussen's father, is a former jockey and |
| Asmussen achieved 555 winners in 2004 to | | | | also a coach. On the other side his mother, |
| smash Jack Van Berg's record of 496 wins which | | | | Marilyn, trained horses. He initiated helping his |
| was reached in 1976. Asmussen also guided all | | | | parents when he was five. Steve walked the |
| North American trainers by victories in the season | | | | horses, cleaned stalls and mislaid part of his thumb |
| 2005 with a total of 474 victories. Steve | | | | in a youth age accident while he was holding a |
| repeated that accomplishment last year with 488 | | | | horse through a fence. |
| triumphs. | | | | Asmussen's brother, Cash, won the Eclipse Award |
| The 18,961 Asmussen's starters had as well | | | | as North America's exceptional beginner jockey in |
| obtained 3,221 runner-ups and 2,717 third-places | | | | 1979 and was also a champion jockey in Europe. |
| closes. Moreover they had compiled $110,856,103 | | | | The Asmussen family manages El Primero |
| in winning earnings all the way through Saturday. | | | | Training Center in Laredo, Texas. |