Broberg passes 4,000 wins, plans first Saratoga string

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – Karl Broberg has been North America’s leading trainer by wins six times. He’s picked up a swath of titles across the Southwest and into the Midwest. And, he hit a milestone of 4,000 training wins last week at Prairie Meadows.

But later this summer, Broberg will be charting some new territory.

“We’ve got 12 stalls for Saratoga,” he said. “We’re going to need a lot of luck.”

Broberg has never started a horse at Saratoga, but he began racing in New York last fall at Belmont Park. He registered his first wins in the state this winter and spring, with four victories at Aqueduct.

“We’re enjoying the experience,” Broberg said. “We were able to win at Aqueduct. Unfortunately, that hasn’t translated yet to Belmont, but it will.”

Winning has been the norm for Broberg, a 50-year-old native of Chicago who came to racing as a horseplayer. He started his first horses as an owner in 2006 and saddled his first winner as a trainer on Nov. 7, 2009, at Retama Park. By 2014, Broberg led North America in trainer wins for the year. He maintained that title every year through 2019.

“From the time I was a little kid, all I wanted to do was bet the horses,” Broberg said, “and I had done everything I could to continue to pursue that endeavor. At one point, I was a groom. There was no way I could support a family doing that, so I went back to [other] work. I was still always obsessed with how I could find a way into the racing world.”

Broberg hit the 4,000-win mark on June 11, when Baudette Blizzard won the sixth race at Prairie Meadows. The milestone came just 12 years into his training career.

“I got a late start training,” Broberg said. “That’s why I’m compelled to make up for lost time.”

Broberg, who won a total of five races June 11, also is the owner of Baudette Blizzard under the banner of End Zone Athletics. He’s won more than 1,730 races as an owner, according to Daily Racing Form statistics. As a trainer, Broberg had won 4,007 races from 16,552 starts through Tuesday, for stable earnings of more than $64 million.

Broberg has divisions of his stable at multiple tracks.

“We currently have 140 head in training,” he said. “We’re at Lone Star, Louisiana Downs, Evangeline, Prairie, Canterbury, and Belmont.”

The operation is largely invested in the claiming game.

“It’s what allows us to continue to do it on a daily basis,” Broberg said. “You hope at some point, you prove yourself to an extent where people send some young horses your way. Our numbers with young horses are good. We don’t have very many flow our way. At some point, that will change.”

Broberg has maintained a large stable through the years and plans to continue to do so – driven by his longstanding goal of keeping all of his staff employed. He said that’s truly been a high point on his road to 4,000 wins.

“Just being able to keep the operation going, I’m thankful for that,” he said.

Gun Runners start strong

There have been a handful of 2-year-olds by the young stallion Gun Runner to have raced, and Steve Asmussen, who trained the Horse of the Year, had saddled two of the stallion’s winners through Tuesday.

Both were for Winchell Thoroughbreds, who in partnership raced the $15 million earner.

“The first crop of Gun Runner, they’re performing extremely well,” Asmussen said. “It’s been very exciting.”

Wicked Halo won her debut June 5 at Lone Star Park in a maiden special weight over five furlongs. The Beyer Speed Figure of 81 that she earned is tied for the top number put up by a 2-year-old filly so far in 2021.

“She’s a very nice homebred for Winchell,” Asmussen said.

Asmussen said Wicked Halo could run next in either the $125,000 Debutante on June 26 at Churchill Downs or the Grade 3, $150,000 Schuylerville on July 15 at Saratoga.

Asmussen has entered a Gun Runner colt for Friday at Lone Star. Hern goes in the fourth race, a maiden special weight over five furlongs. He will start from the rail under jockey Stewart Elliott, who has the mount for L & N Racing.

“It’s fun to have them,” Asmussen said of the offspring of Gun Runner. “We have several that we’re very excited about.”

Asmussen is the current leading trainer at Lone Star.

Super Stock eyes Iowa Derby

Grade 1 winner Super Stock could be headed to Iowa.

Asmussen said Tuesday that the horse will likely make his next start in the $250,000 Iowa Derby on July 2 at Prairie Meadows.

Super Stock is coming off a fourth-place finish in the $300,000 Texas Derby on May 31 at Lone Star. He broke from post 10 in the 1 1/16-mile race and was beaten 3 1/2 lengths in his first start on a wet track. Earlier this year, Super Stock won the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby.

“I’ve moved him to Churchill,” Asmussen said. “I believe the Iowa Derby most likely will be his next run.”

Asmussen trains the horse for his father, Keith Asmussen, and Erv Woolsey.

EMILY SHIELDS Trainer Karl Broberg has won more than 4,000 races in a career that started in November 2009.