TRAINER STEVE ASMUSSEN CONTINUES DOMINATION IN TOBY KEITH STAKES, AS NOT A LADY GIVES HIM HIS FOURTH WIN IN THIS SERIES
The nation’s all-time winningest trainer in history, Steve Asmussen, continued his domination in the Toby Keith Stakes as Not a Lady gave him his fourth win in this series at Remington Park.
The race is named for the late, great Toby Keith, who not only was a superstar in country music, but also a horseman that was heavily involved in the racing industry in Oklahoma under the umbrella of Dream Walkin Farms. He often raced many winners in Oklahoma City and was a regular on race nights.
Keith’s family was on hand to present the trophy to Not a Lady, Asmussen and representatives for Winchell Thoroughbreds (Ron Winchell of Las Vegas) in the winner’s circle. The filly followed in the footsteps of Asmussen’s other winners – Princesinha Julia (2019), Optionality (2021) and Glee (2024). It was Steve’s son, jockey Erik Asmussen, gaining his first win in the race. Owner Winchell Thoroughbreds won for a second time as they also owned Optionality.
Erik set Not a Lady just off the shoulder of front-runner Alisal down the backstretch of this one-mile race and took over in the four-horse field after three-quarters of a mile. The early fractions were :24.73 for the first quarter-mile, :50.13 for the half-mile, 1:15.49 for three-quarters of a mile and 1:28.31 after seven furlongs. The winning time for Not a Lady was 1:42.07 over the fast main track.
Not a Lad was the even-money favorite and paid $4 to win and $2.20 to place. Show wagering was refunded after the race scratched to four. Alisal (5-2) ran second, 5-3/4 lengths ahead of Samantha Code (5-2) and Mojo Promise (7-2) rounded out the four. The race scratched to four when Miss Call and Taut did not run.
Not a Lady, a 2-year-old Kentucky-bred filly by Into Mischief, out of the More Than Ready mare Justa Lady, earned $45,000 from the $72,750 purse and improved her record to five starts, three wins, and one second for a bankroll of $112,056. She was bred by Curtis C. Green. She was purchased by Winchell Thoroughbreds in the Keeneland September Yearling Sale of 2024 for $775,000.
With his close-to-the-front racing style that produced the win, Erik had just one thing to say about that.
“A clean face wins the race,” he said, meaning no dirt flying into his face or his horse’s. “I just feel super blessed to ride such a nicely bred filly. Dad has done a fantastic job with her.”
Steve said he had a good feeling when he saw Not a Lady in the morning today.
“She was confident and well settled; I thought she would run big,” he said.
Steve won his unprecedented 20th training title at Remington Park and boasted of his crew that runs the show at Remington Park.
“It’s always special to win the titles here because it’s the first track I’ve ever won a training title (in 1991) at,” Steve said. “Pablo (Ocampo) and the crew are the gold standard of this operation.”
Steve ran away with this year’s trophy with 72 wins to runner-up Joe Offolter’s 32.
Remington Park has provided more than $402 Million to the State of Oklahoma general education fund since the opening of the casino in 2005. Located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District, Remington Park presents year-round simulcast racing and casino gaming. Guests must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or to enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
-30-