TRAINER STEVE ASMUSSEN IS FIRST TO 11,000 NORTH AMERICAN WINS, SCORING A TRIPLE ON SATURDAY AT REMINGTON PARK WITH SON ERIK RIDING ALL THREE

Steve Asmussen set another milestone with his 11,000th North American win. He became the first trainer to that number on this continent when Beau Soleil won the eighth race on Saturday night at Remington Park.

Beau Soleil was Asmussen’s third win on the Remington Park program. He needed all three to reach 11,000 on Saturday after starting the day at 10,997 North American wins.

“I’m extremely proud and grateful to a lot of great help, great owners and great horses,” Asmussen said.

Asmussen’s assistant trainer at Remington Park since Day One has been Pablo Ocampo.

The win by Beau Soleil was Asmussen’s last chance to set that mark at Remington Park as he had no entry in the ninth and final race on the card. His son, Erik Asmussen, rode all three winners for his dad. Steve Asmussen spoke highly of his owners and the one that got him to 11,000 was Clark Brewster of Tulsa, Okla. Brewster is the second all-time winningest owner at Remington Park and will be inducted into the Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame here on Dec. 5.

Asmussen’s night at Remington Park began with two quick victories in the second and third races. That put him at 10,999 North American wins.

His winners in the second and third came courtesy of Erik, who was in the saddle with Vestes and Amadora’s Empire, respectively, in those races. Steve owns both of those winners.

Asmussen claimed Vestes, a 4-year-old gelding by Home of the Brave, out of the Air Commander mare Saka for $7,500 from trainer Victor Hanson on Sept. 26 here. Vestes was also bred in Oklahoma by Hanson.

Amadora’s Empire, a 3-year-old Kentucky-bred filly by Classic Empire, out of the Goldencents mare Amadora, was also a claimed horse. Asmussen picked her up for $16,000 at Ellis Park in Kentucky from trainer Brendan Walsh on July 21.

After his first two winners, Asmussen was shut out until later in the Remington card. He had one entered at the Downs at Albuquerque and it appeared the milestone might happen in New Mexico in the $175,000 Albuquerque Stakes. Blue Devil would put him at 11,000 with a victory, but the horse ran third in the black-type race. Now the emphasis was back on his remaining opportunities at Remington Park.

Asmussen had horses entered in races seven and eight. He sent out Rivetage, the post-time favorite in the seventh race, but he could only produce a third-place finish. Asmussen had two horses remaining for the night, both in the eighth race – Beau Soleil and Tapit First. Neither went off close to favoritism.

Coming down the stretch of the 6-1/2 furlongs race over a main fast track in the featured allowance race, Kerry’s Kiss, the pacesetter saw one horse over her right shoulder closing fast. It was Beau Soleil. Erik let out another notch of the reins and Beau Soleil reacted with a surge. Beau Soleil, a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred filly by Alternation, out of the Sky Classic mare Sun for Fun, just got past Kerry’s Kiss at the wire by a neck. The two of them were 3-1/2 lengths ahead of third-place finisher Bang Fury.

At the odds of 8-1, Beau Soleil paid $19.40 to win, $8 to place and $4.60 to show. The winner stopped the timer in 1:16.52 after chasing interior fractions of :21.86 for the first quarter-mile, :44.43 for the half-mile and 1:09.72 for three quarters of a mile. She earned $23,070 for the win and improved to 22 starts, six wins, four seconds and three thirds for a total bankroll of $191,110.

Asmussen has won an unprecedented 19 training titles at Remington Park with an all-time leading 1,331 total victories in Oklahoma City. Now with 29 wins for the current season, Asmussen leads Robertino Diodoro by seven in the standings, in search for a 20th seasonal title here.

Remington Park racing continues Oct. 16-18, Thursday through Saturday. The 33rd Oklahoma Classics, the million-dollar night of stakes racing for top Oklahoma-breds is featured Friday evening. The first race nightly is 6pm-Central.

Remington Park has provided more than $396 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. The 2025 Oklahoma Classics Night of stakes racing for top Oklahoma-breds is Friday, Oct. 17. The Thoroughbred Season continues through Dec. 20. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.

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