Bridgmohan wins Cardinal Handicap

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (CMC):

Jamaican jockey Shaun Bridgmohan captured the US$113,900 Cardinal Handicap on Sunday when he piloted Askbut I Won'ttell to victory in the feature event on the 11-race card at Churchill Downs.

Going off at odds of 6-1, Bridgmohan completed the 1-1/8 mile trip with the four-year-old chestnut filly in a time of one minute, 50.41 seconds to win by 1-1/4 lengths.

He stalked the lead set by Kiss Mine and then War Tigress before rousing his mount in the stretch to get clear at the finish in the Grade III.

"I had a good trip. I sat right behind the speed horses. At the top of the stretch, I just needed to find her somewhere to go and once I swung her out and asked her for it, she gave it to me and finished," Bridgmohan said.

"She's a filly that comes from a little further back. (Trainer) Mr Block (Chris) told me to ask her early to make sure she wasn't too far back and I think he dissected the race pretty good and all I had to do was execute it."

With instructions from Block to keep the filly off the lead, Bridgmohan settled her in fourth as Kiss Mine led through the first quarter in 25.02 seconds, with War Tigress half-length back and My Baby Baby third.

By the halfway point, however, War Tigress had picked up the running with Kiss Mine stalking closely.

As the race reached the final turn, Kiss Mine was set down for the drive with My Baby Baby also making a run at the lead, but Bridgmohan brought Askbut I Won'ttell with a thundering run to split rivals and reach the wire handsomely.

Askbut I Won'ttell has now earned US$265,902.