LOUISVILLE, Ky. — In horse racing, Steve Asmussen’s name is synonymous with victory.
“Extremely excited to be able to participate in what I feel is the pinnacle of the sport,” he said.
When he started pouring back through the history books, name a time, place or race and chances are a Steve Asmussen horse finished first. He is one of the sport’s biggest winners ever, except in its biggest race.
“[I] pursued it my whole life and we’ve had such incredible chances and some well documented tough defeats,” he said.
Asmussen is 0-25 on the first Saturday in May.
While ghosts of Derby past may still haunt him, this year, there’s a phantom on his side.
Track Phantom has had strong starts in its races leading up to the Derby.
“He’s a horse that’s been on the Derby trail from a long ways back and he’s got a win over the surface,” he said. “Churchill Downs is home to him – he’s settled back in nicely [and] goes beautiful over the race track. [I have] nothing but respect for the competition, but we’re very excited about him and the opportunity for him to run in the Kentucky Derby.”
Opportunity can be a funny thing. For Asmussen, it’s led to heartbreak.
“I don’t know what it feels like to win the Derby, but I do know what it feels like to think you’re gonna win the Derby,” he said.
This time, it could make the Derby’s 150th year, his year.
“What a wonderful story it would be, we’re just trying to have everything as perfect as it can be come first Saturday.”
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