Slim pickings for Bridgmohan on big-money day

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (CMC):

Jamaican jockey Shaun Bridgmohan had a chance at big money on the 20th anniversary edition of Louisiana Champions Day card, but came away virtually empty-handed on Saturday.

Riding at Fair Grounds on the 13-race programme worth US$1.17 million, the 31-year-old could only snatch a victory in the $37,000 race four, the cheapest of the day's purses.

He had booked rides in four of the day's 11 stakes races but his best finishes were two third places in the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Turf Stakes in race eight and the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Sprint Stakes in race 12, respectively.

Aboard the 9-1 bet Hallway in race eight, Bridgmohan raced near the rear of the field, but lacked the final rally to beat the hot favourite Snakebite Kit.

Paired with Cherry Forever in race 12, Bridgmohan struggled on the pace early on but rallied well, showing late speed to finish behind winner Cajun Conference.

His only success came in race four when he steered the 6-1 bet, Make It Roses, to a solid 1-1/4 lengths victory going six furlongs for the two-year-olds.

He settled the bay colt off the pace set by Cotile Lake who led through the first half-mile, with Socially-challenged tracking in second.

Bridgmohan then roused Make It Roses at the three-eighths pole, sent him three-wide through the turn before surging past the leader Burning Valor to win handsomely.