If you spent your Saturday wagering on horses trained by Steve Asmussen at Fair Grounds, you had reason to smile at the end of the day. Last year’s leading trainer nationally by wins saddled starters in seven races on the 10-race card and won six, twice ran one-two, and captured the day’s stakes race.
Asmussen tied his own record for most wins on a single Fair Grounds program.
The action for Asmussen started in the first race of the day, when Captain Cherokee and Fierce Thunder ran first and second, the winner paying $4.40 and the exacta returning $32.80.
After two races without starters, he sent two postward in the fourth and Dialect won ($13) while Zoomin Bayou finished fifth.
In the fifth race, Asmussen actually lost a race when Ghetto Superstart finished second and Grapelli ran sixth.
Asmussen had two runners in the sixth race and Nuclear Wayne finished first ($3.40) while Cuvee Star ran fourth.
The trainer had no starters in the seventh race but then took the last three races on the card. First, Dumar ($7.40) and Sunday Sunrise combined for a healthy $203.40 exacta.
In the Truly Bound Stakes, Asmussen sent out Rolling Sea to an easy win over heavily favored Bear Now. Rolling Sea paid $6.
In the nightcap, the Asmussen-trained Hightap scored a runaway win and returned $3.
The Asmussen late pick three returned $42.60.