Trainer Asmussen Sets Record for Wins in Year

Trainer Steve Asmussen broke Jack Van Berg’s record for most wins in a year by a trainer in North America when Coronado Rose won the $50,000 Delta Belle on Saturday night at Delta Downs in Vinton, La.

With Asmussen watching the race on television at Sam Houston Park in Texas, Coronado Rose, who is owned by Oceanfront Property and Keith Asmussen, the trainer’s father, prevailed by a neck to give Asmussen his 497th win of the year with his 2,043rd starter. Van Berg had won 496 in 1976 with 2,362 starters.

The victory was the fifth of the day for Asmussen, 39, with his 30th starter at tracks in Texas, Louisiana, New York, Kentucky and Illinois.

“This is extremely significant to me,” said Asmussen, who finished second nationally to Scott Lake in 2003 with 452 victories. “It’s an outstanding accomplishment. They write my name down for this, but make no mistake, I’m a very small part of this. I have to give credit to all of my assistants and thank all of my owners.”

*

Asmussen added a stakes victory to his total Sunday, taking the $106,500 Valley Stream at Aqueduct with 9-2 shot Megascape.

Ridden by John Velazquez, the 2-year-old Cape Canaveral filly led throughout and beat 7-10 favorite Alfonsina by 2 1/4 lengths. She ran the six furlongs in 1:10.38.

*

Jockey Goncalino Almeida was taken to Centinela Hospital Medical Center complaining of lower back pain after being involved in a spill in Sunday’s sixth race at Hollywood Park.

Almeida was thrown to the ground hard when Sparkling Ava, his mount in the $46,000 allowance, suffered a fatal leg injury.

*

No Bull Baby, the 2-1 favorite, rallied past 8-1 shot Short Route to win the $100,000 Moccasin Stakes on Sunday at Hollywood Park. Tyler Baze rode the 2-year-old Indian Charlie filly for owners Patti and Hal Earnhardt and trainer Bob Baffert. She ran the seven furlongs in 1:23.06.

*

Hollywood Park’s six-race, $1.75-million Turf Festival will begin Friday with the $100,000 Miesque Stakes and $150,000 Hollywood Turf Express, continue the following day with the $100,000 Generous Stakes and $400,000 Citation Handicap, and finish with the $500,000 Matriarch and $500,000 Hollywood Derby on Sunday.

Velazquez, the country’s leading jockey in terms of purse earnings, will be here to ride Ocean Drive in the Matriarch and Timo in the Hollywood Derby.