Trainer Asmussen wins his 14th title at Churchill Downs

Steve Asmussen called his record-extending 14th Churchill Downs training title particularly gratifying coming on the heels of allegations of abusive treatment of horses made by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Asmussen won Sunday's fifth race with odds-on favorite Dash to the Flash and the 10th race finale with 19-1 More Than Less to finish the spring meet with 21 victories — five more victories than Dale Romans and Mike Maker. Highlighting Asmussen's meet was an impressive victory by Untapable in the Kentucky Oaks.

Closer inspection of the heavily edited video PETA produced and released after its investigator got a job as a hotwalker in the stable showed extremely profane language by former Asmussen assistant Scott Blasi, but not actual abuse of horses. Racing authorities in Kentucky and New York, where PETA lodged complaints against Asmussen, said they would investigate but have not announced any findings.

Asmussen, who has one of the largest U.S. stables, lost a myriad of horses amid the bad publicity. He estimates he lost "40 or 50 within a week, and all the 2-year-olds that would have followed them."

"Losing a lot of horses before the meet, the people who stuck with us, (the title) means a ton," he said. "… You answer the alarm clock and do what you can with what you've got. We're extremely fortunate to be in this position. … Any adversity makes you better at what you do. It's an opportunity to improve how you do everything."

Starting at the top of owners sticking with Asmussen is Ron Winchell, owner of Untapable, who Saturday captured Belmont's Mother Goose.

"What a special filly she is," Asmussen said. "Looks like we have nice young horses, too, to go on with."

Asmussen won five stakes at the meet, including Saturday's Grade III Bashford Manor with Cinco Charlie — his sixth 2-year-old winner of the meet. He swept Belmont's weekend stakes when Street Story won the $150,000, Grade III Victory Ride for 3-year-old fillies Sunday.

It was Asmussen's fourth title of the year, following Sam Houston in Texas, Fair Grounds in Louisiana and Oaklawn in Arkansas. He said he was "extremely proud" of Darren Fleming, his assistant who took over for Blasi at Churchill.

Said Asmussen: "When you have a training title or any accolade as a trainer, you're very dependent on a lot of other people's effort, the owners that stick with you, the job your help does, good trips and some fast horses."

Asked to reflect on his spring, he said, "I think this spring will all be about Untapable and her brilliant Oaks. That was huge."

Corey Lanerie won 57 races to easily earn his fifth Churchill riding title, following crowns at Churchill's September and fall meets. Julien Leparoux won two races Sunday to tie injured Rosie Napravnik for second with 31 wins apiece.

"It always feels good to be on top, especially when the riding colony here, it was probably one of the toughest we've had," said Lanerie, who will ride an entire meet at Saratoga for the first time. "To be able to do what I've done, it just feels great. I have a lot of different business; I don't have it all in one basket. That helps a whole lot.

"I'm looking forward to my next step, going to New York. I know it's going to be tough but I'm going to give it my best and see what happens."

Maggi Moss, with seven wins, captured her third Churchill owner's title and first since the 2010 spring meet. Moss, who has been a critic of Churchill Downs Inc., posted on Facebook: "Something magical about Churchill Downs, the twin spires and the tradition; private, personal goal to be leading owner there again in 2014 and thanks to Tom Amoss, his crew and the wonderful horses — accomplished and I am truly happy and grateful!!"

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