Keith Asmussen (Coady Photography)
Oaklawn Barn Notes by Robert Yates
HOT SPRINGS, Ark.— The ride is becoming smoother for jockey Keith Asmussen, who resumed his career last fall after earning a master’s degree in professional accounting earlier in 2022 from the University of Texas’ McCombs School of Business.
After a slow start at the 2022-2023 Oaklawn meeting that began Dec. 9, Asmussen has climbed the standings in recent weeks and enters Friday tied for ninth with 14 victories. Back strongly by his father, Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, Keith Asmussen has eight victories over the last 15 racing days, highlighted by his first career riding triple March 19.
“Feels like I’m getting exponentially better,” Asmussen, 24, said moments after winning the March 25 nightcap aboard Ryvit for Steve Asmussen. “It’s trying not to change too many things at once. But just like small, incremental changes that I feel are benefiting me and I think they’re adding up. It does seem to be making a difference.”
Keith Asmussen notched his first career Oaklawn victory, and eighth overall, Jan. 14 aboard Papa Rocket ($12.40) for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Asmussen reunited with Papa Rocket ($7) for another victory, March 17. Two days later, Asmussen recorded a triple, winning the first race aboard Mendelssohn Joy ($11.40) for Nevada Litfin – the jockey’s first for a non-Hall of Fame trainer – fourth race aboard Tribal Spirit ($6.40) and the sixth race aboard Allege ($9.80). Asmussen’s final two victories were for his father.
“He’s riding very good races,” said Steve Asmussen, a former jockey who has collected a record 12 Oaklawn training titles. “I love to see that. You want to do well and he’s your kid and all that, but I’m impressed with the trips he’s giving them.”
Father and son teamed again to win last Sunday’s sixth race with Lamutanaatty ($12.80). It was marked Keith Asmussen’s 21st career victory and the 857th overall at Oaklawn for his famous father.
Steve Asmussen became the first trainer to reach 10,000 career North American victories when Bet He’s Ready captured the fifth race Feb. 20 at Oaklawn under Ricardo Santana Jr. Keith Asmussen was aboard Carpe Horseshoe ($6.60) for No. 10,003 Feb. 24 at Oaklawn. With 14 days remaining in the 2022-2023 meeting, Steve Asmussen is poised to surpass the late Bob Holthus (867) as Oaklawn’s all-time winningest trainer.
“Sure hope so,” Keith Asmussen said, when asked about making history with his father. “I was definitely praying for that 10K.”
Asmussen, who doesn’t compete with an apprentice weight allowance because of his 5-10 frame, said he will ride at Lone Star Park, minutes from his suburban Dallas home, after the Oaklawn meeting ends May 6. He could head to Texas as a Top 10 rider at Oaklawn.
“When I first started, I was just so grateful for it,” said Asmussen, who surpassed $1 million in career purse earnings last Sunday. “I feel like I wake up having an attitude check. It was trying not to take any of these days for granted because I do feel incredibly blessed to be able to do this.”
Asmussen made his riding debut June 15, 2020, at Lone Star Park and recorded his first career victory there July 26, 2020, aboard the Steve Asmussen-trained Inis Gluaire. It was the jockey’s 19th career mount. After graduating from Texas, Asmussen began galloping horses at Lone Star Park and followed his father to Saratoga, then Kentucky, before he resumed riding Oct. 27 at Keeneland. Asmussen had 14 mounts last year, highlighted by a neck victory aboard Tonal Impact for his father Nov. 23 at Churchill Downs. The jockey’s first six victories, all for his father, came in 2020 (five at Lone Star Park and one at Remington Park).
