Steven Asmussen Gregory Foley and Pletcher top Trainers at Churchill Downs
If you were going to place a bet right now on a horse trained by Steven Asmussen at Churchill Downs, there is an excellent chance it will come in the money. Asmussen is one of the top trainer at Churchill. Almost 60% of the time, his horses have finished either one, two or three. He has 11 victories and his horses have earnings that have topped a half million dollars.
Asmussen was born into thoroughbred racing, the son of horse trainers. He started his career as a jockey until he got too big to be able to compete any longer and turned his focused into preparing horses to run. He has won a number of major races over the years including the Breeders Cup Classic in 2007 with Horse of the Year, Curlin. Curlin alone has earnings over $10 million dollars.
Asmussen's competition right now for top trainer at Churchill is coming from Gregory Foley and Todd Pletcher who each have a total of 8 wins in the Spring meet. Pletcher has only saddled 24 horses this spring at Churchill for an impressive 33% winning percentage, 14 of his 24 have finished in the money. Horses trained by Foley have been entered in 34 races in April and May and has had a total of 14 finish first, second or third. Pletcher tops the earnings list at Churchill this spring because of his victory in the Kentucky Derby with Super Saver. If you look at his earnings across the country you will see that not only is he one of the top trainers at Churchill but he is among the best in the entire country. Here is his line so far for 2010: 394 starts, 106 wins, 63 seconds, 66 thirds and earnings of $8,357,058. His winning percentage is 26.9 and his in the money percentage is 59.9.
There is a large group of trainers who are doing very well this meet at Churchill even though they are not as well known as Asmussen or Pletcher. They have horses running in races with much lower purses but still have scored six victories. In this group are Dale Romans, Steve Margolis, Eddie Kenneally and Thomas Amoss. Any time you notice one of these trainers have a horse entered in a race make sure you factor in their success into your handicapping.
How much of a factor is the trainer in the performance of a horse? The experts will argue over whether the jockey is more of a factor or the horses breeding but do not under estimate the value of a trainer especially one with a hot hand. Eddie Kenneally had the daily double with wins in back to back races on Sunday May 23rd at Churchill, a $2 bet paid back $21.60. A good trainer will know when his horse is ready to run and will put him in position to succeed. The rest is left up to the jockey and the horse itself.
Trainers will usually go over with a jockey how they want them to run the race. Questions always come up as to whether the horse is better suited to take the lead or come from behind. The trainer will also brief the jock on the other horses in the field and which poses the greatest threat. Jockeys and trainers who work well together are an excellent combination worth betting. Pletcher has had a great deal of success working with Calvin Borel for example, the jockey who rode his horse Super Saver to victory in the Derby. If you had bet that combination in the Run for the Roses, you would have cashed a $2 win ticket for $18.
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