Asmussen Breaks Single-Season Oaklawn Earnings Record
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Photo: Coady Photography
Sinara (outside) gives trainer Steve Asmussen a new single-season record at Oaklawn Park
Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen broke his single-season Oaklawn Park record for purse earnings when Sianara and Miner's Queen ran 1-2, respectively, in the seventh race April 28, a maiden special weight sprint for fillies and mares, 3 and up, valued at $93,000.
Asmussen's runners collected $74,400 for the finish, pushing his total past the record $5,644,609 set in 2019 when he won 64 races, second-highest single-season total in Oaklawn history. Wednesday was the 48th day of the weather-shortened 51-day meeting that ends Saturday. Asmussen finished Wednesday with $5,686,643 in purse earnings at the meet.
Asmussen has all but secured his record-tying 11th Oaklawn training title with 57 victories though Wednesday. Defending champion Robertino Diodoro was second with 41. Hall of Famer Henry Forrest won 11 titles between 1947 and 1963.
The late Cole Norman, Asmussen, Diodoro, and David Vance are the only trainers in Oaklawn history to reach 50 victories in a single season. Norman won a record 71 races in 2003.
Sianara represented Asmussen's 752nd career Oaklawn winner (No. 2 all time). Asmussen has a record 96 career Oaklawn stakes victories. He has three horses entered in Saturday's $300,000 Oaklawn Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles, including 5-2 program favorite Scarred.
Asmussen will be watching his Oaklawn starters from Churchill Downs where he will saddle Fantasy Stakes (G3) winner Pauline's Pearl in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) on Friday and Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Super Stock in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) on Saturday.