Asmussen First to Get 500 Wins at Lone Star

Trainer Steve Asmussen became the first horseman to notch 500 career wins at Lone Star Park, when Star of Caveat won Saturday's first race at the Grand Prairie, Texas racetrack.

"I'm honored," said Asmussen, who resides in nearby Arlington, Texas. "Lone Star has everything to do with the progress our stable had made over the past few years. Hopefully, we've got 500 more and it's just the beginning of the record."

Asmussen, the top trainer in the nation this year with 287 victories through Friday, has all but clinched his record fifth training title at Lone Star. Saturday's victory was the 38-year-old Texan's 73rd at the meet, which was 21 clear of defending champ Cole Norman. Asmussen won four straight titles at Lone Star from 1999-2002.

In addition to being Lone Star Park's career win leader, Asmussen holds track records for career stakes victories (36), career earnings ($11.8 million) and single season earnings ($2.2 million in 2001).

Corey Lanerie, Lone Star Park's all-time leading jockey with 470 wins, is the only horseman close to Asmussen's Lone Star win total. Closest to Asmussen in career training wins is Cole Norman (386).