Bodog Beat

Steve Asmussen remains the lead trainer of 2008 so far. (AP Images)

The list of leading North American thoroughbreds has seen little change over the last month but could see some movement in the earnings column this weekend with several prominent players taking part in some major events.

Last month’s divisional leaders, Curlin, his trainer Steve Asmussen and his regular rider Robby Albarado added to their totals with another convincing win in the $1M Stephen Foster Handicap recently at Churchill Downs.

With just two 2008 wins from as many starts, Curlin continues to lead all active earners with a total of $4,189,000. The reigning Horse of the Year and favorite to retain his distinguished title is scheduled to try a new route to the podium in the upcoming weeks. Plans are for the champion to make his first start on the turf in the near future in anticipation of a trip to Paris for the prestigious Prix de l’Arc De Triumphe.

Despite his Belmont Stakes loss, Big Brown holds second spot on the list with earnings of 2,676,700. Third-place resident Benny the Bull is now three-for-three on the season, scoring an impressive sprint victory recently at Belmont to increase his total to $1,515,000.

Heatseeker sits comfortably in fourth-place with $918,000, and although he could increase his bankroll significantly with a victory in Saturday’s $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup, he can not improve his ranking.
A new addition to the lucrative list is last weekend’s $1M Queen’s Plate winner Not Bourbon, whose current bankroll of $798,000 moved him into fifth-place ahead of Well Armed and Go Between who share sixth with $780,000. Go Between is entered in Saturday’s Gold Cup.

Einstein, who ventured off the turf to a runner-up finish behind Curlin in the Stephen Foster, has joined the list and sits just behind the above pair with $778,000.

The list of leading trainers remains the domain of Steve Asmussen with his 1,389 starters totaling an insurmountable $15,202, 589. Controversial Richard Dutrow continues the chase with earnings of $8,009, 066 and Todd Pletcher has increased his third-place total to $6,993,045.

The jockey standings haven’t changed with Robby Albarado’s current total of $9,963,442 giving him a slim advantage over Garrett Gomez’s $9,735,824. Edgar Prado remains in third-place on the list with $8,703,751. Fourth-place rider Kent Desormeaux has totaled $7,929,979 and is rapidly approaching the $5,000 career victory mark with 4,991 as of Tuesday.

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