Asmussen nears 8,000 wins

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Steve Asmussen is on the verge of becoming just the second trainer in North American racing history to hit the 8,000-win mark, although obviously the monumental feat would be obscured by all the Derby goings-on if he happens to reach the milestone this weekend.

Through Sunday, Asmussen had 7,994 wins. He has a total of four starters here Tuesday through Thursday, then a multitude of entries both here and at Lone Star Park on Friday and Saturday. Only the late Dale Baird, with 9,445, has more career wins than Asmussen, who was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 2016.

Spring opener well-attended

Ontrack attendance for the 10-race Downs After Dark opening card here Saturday night was 22,023, with all-sources handle reported at $6,415,354. Those numbers are slightly above the averages for the first 44 Downs After Dark programs (21,042 and $5,844,044), dating to June 2009.

Beckford was an eye-catching winner of the opening-night feature, the $100,000 William Walker, and could make his next start at the Royal Ascot meet in June.

◗ Go Google Yourself, a sharp allowance winner at the Keeneland meet for Jay Em Ess Stable, will run in the May 18 Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico unless a second-level allowance on the Oaks undercard were to fill when entries were taken here Monday.