Asmussen wins nine Saturday races

Trainer Steve Asmussen won nine races around the country on Saturday, including two stakes: Inca King ($18.60) in the Grade 2 Jefferson Cup at Churchill Downs and Sea of Joy ($9.60) in the $60,000 Crank It Up at Monmouth Park. Asmussen also had winners at Arlington Park and Lone Star Park.

Asmussen started 17 horses Saturday. He won a personal-best 10 races from 16 starters on Feb. 7, 2004.

His winners on Saturday came in bunches. He had four at Churchill Downs, taking the second race with Humble Janet ($5), the third with Sok Sok ($9.80), the fourth with Simon Pure ($7.60), and the sixth with Inca King. Asmussen registered a triple at Lone Star, winning the second with Swamp Lady ($8.80), the fourth with Our Call ($3.80), and the eighth with Red Rock Creek ($5.80). His winner at Arlington Park came in the first with Deputy Dancer ($3.60).

Asmussen operates one of the largest stables in North America, and ranks a close second in wins this year to Scott Lake. Asmussen was the nation's leading trainer in wins in 2002. He also claimed that title in 2004, when he set a North American record for trainer wins in a year, with 555.