Amoss, Asmussen Tie for Fair Grounds Title

Trainers Tom Amoss and Steve Asmussen ended the 141st Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots meeting in a dead-heat for most victories with 42 apiece when they combined to win half of the races on the closing-day card March 31.

For the third straight season, jockey Rosie Napravnik and owner Maggi Moss led their respective categories at the New Orleans oval as well.

Asmussen extended his record number of leading trainer titles to 12, while Amoss tied Jack Van Berg for second in Fair Grounds trainer titles with 10. Asmussen won his sixth consecutive leading trainer crown at Fair Grounds.

Last week, Asmussen became the second-leading trainer all-time nationally in victories, passing Van Berg. He now has 6,423 lifetime wins.

Amoss won four races on the closing-day program to notch a share of his first local training title since 2006-07. He and Asmussen also shared a meet title in 2000-01.

"It's been a while," Amoss said. "It's good to know the stable had one left in them! But truly, every once in a while the horse gods give you a magical day and today was truly a magical day. Four wins is almost gluttonous, but we'll take it, for sure. I'm proud of the stable and I'm proud of everyone that works for the barn."

The last time a trainer other than Amoss or Asmussen led the standings at Fair Grounds was the 1998-1999 meet, when Al Stall Jr. tied with Amoss.

Amoss now has 922 career Fair Grounds victories, second behind Van Berg's 1,210 (estimated), while Asmussen is third with 863.

Napravnik cruised to her third consecutive leading jockey title with 125 wins, her highest total at Fair Grounds. She finished 43 wins ahead of James Graham, who was runner-up for the fifth time.

"My husband and I have made this our home and we love this city and the racing here at Fair Grounds, so it was great to be back this year," Napravnik said. "It's great to have all of the supporters, the owners and trainers, helping rack up the wins. We'll be back next year and we're looking forward to it already. I hate to leave."

In another race that came down to the final day, Maggi Moss earned her third straight leading owner title with 19 wins, one more than Asmussen.

Moss, a Des Moines, Iowa attorney, finished third in the national owner standings the past three calendar years.