The Father and Son Competing AGAINST Each at the Kentucky Derby

As the Kentucky Derby inches closer, a father and son duo are preparing to compete against each other on the biggest stage.

Steve Asmussen is a veteran horse trainer who has competed in several Kentucky Derbies over the years, and this year his son jockey Keith Asmussen is gearing up for his very first.

The kicker? The father and son pair aren’t on the same team even though he got his start racing for his father.

“I’m a proud parent,” Steve told NBC Sports. “Me and Julia have three wonderful boys. To see them having success and living out their dreams, especially in a sport we’re so familiar with it means so much.”

And even though Steve’s horse Track Phantom is up against Keith’s Just Steel, he continued saying, “You want everything to go right leading up it and everybody just have a nice chance.”

Steve’s face lit up when the reporter asked him what it would mean to him if Track Phantom and Just Steel came around the turn together, both in striking range.

“Oh man,” he said, “I can’t even imagine. I just so much want the preparation to go well, all the lead up. That moment when they walk in the gate, when you’re at that height of anticipation, been there before. Just want it to go well.”

In the end, Steve says he wishes everyone the best, including his son.

So get your Mint Julep ready. The Derby is about to begin, now on NBC.