Trainer tops his own record for wins in a season

Steve Asmussen has again broken his own record for victories by a trainer in a year with win No. 623 at Woodbine Racetrack near Toronto.

Poppin's victory in the 13th race at the track Monday allowed Asmussen to break the record of 622 he set last year.

Asmussen is not new at this. The first time he topped the mark was 2004, when he collected 555 victories and smashed the record of 497 set by Jack Van Berg in 1976.

Through Monday, Asmussen had 623 winners from 2,799 starts and was far and away the leading trainer in purse earnings at nearly $21.1 million.

Asmussen trains 2009 Horse of the Year contender Rachel Alexandra, and also trained two-time Horse of the Year Curlin.

Asmussen is in charge of one of the nation's largest stable of about 300 horses.