Bridgmohan losing out on mounts for Asmussen

The longstanding relationship between trainer Steve Asmussen and jockey Shaun Bridgmohan has been put on at least a temporary hold.

Bridgmohan last rode a horse for Asmussen in the second race on March 5, and was not aboard any Asmussen-trained starters during races at Fair Grounds from March 6-8. Bridgmohan was named to ride Awesome Bet in a maiden race on Friday, but was not named to ride any of Asmussen’s other horses entered at Fair Grounds on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.

Asmussen said he was upset that Bridgmohan’s agent, Anthony Martin, told him during entry time on Monday, Feb. 28 that Bridgmohan had accepted a call on a horse named Mavericking rather than riding the Asmussen-trained Great Mills in the Grindstone Stakes, a race that wound up being postponed for one week because of heavy rain. Asmussen said he didn’t know if or when Bridgmohan would start riding regularly for him again.

“I’m not locked into anything,” Asmussen said.

Martin, Bridgmohan’s agent, said he had no comment on the situation when reached earlier this week. Bridgmohan did not respond to phone messages.

Bridgmohan first started riding for Asmussen in 2005, and became the stable’s most regularly used jockey in 2007, when he rode 85 Asmussen-trained winners. Overall, the Asmussen-Bridghoman jockey-trainer combination has produced 507 winners from 2,318 starters. In 2010, Bridgmohan rode 65 winners for trainers other than Asmussen.