Bridgmohan plans to ride at Oaklawn Park

Jockey Shaun Bridgmohan will be based at Oaklawn Park for the first time in his career when the Hot Springs, Ark., track opens on Jan. 9. The season runs through April 11.

Jay Fedor, the rider’s agent, said there were a couple of reasons to come to Oaklawn.

“A lot of our key clients are coming here, and the purses are so good,” said Fedor.

Bridgmohan is expected to ride for a host of different trainers with local divisions, including Steve Asmussen, Scott Becker, Mark Casse, Wayne Catalano, Brad Cox, Kellyn Gorder, and Steve Hobby.

Fedor said Bridgmohan was due to arrive just after the first of the year. Bridgmohan, a regular in Kentucky, began riding in 1997. He won the Eclipse Award as outstanding apprentice in 1998, and has gone on to rack up titles at Aqueduct, Arlington, Churchill Downs, and Fair Grounds.

Bridgmohan has won Grade 1 races with Room Service, who took this year’s Ashland and American Oaks, as well as Giant Oak and Kodiak Kowboy. Bridgmohan has won 2,779 races for mount earnings of $115 million.

Ricardo Santana Jr., who has won the last two riding titles at Oaklawn, will again winter in Hot Springs, said his agent, Ruben Munoz. Santana had several stakes mounts last Sunday at Remington Park, but missed those races due to a family emergency.

“He had to leave Saturday night to Panama,” Munoz said. “His dad wasn’t well.”

Munoz will also have the book of Ramon Vazquez, who won the riding title at Remington.

Don’t Tell Sophia eyes Pippin

Don’t Tell Sophia, the runner-up in this year’s Breeders’ Cup Distaff, is due to arrive at Oaklawn either Friday or Saturday, said her co-owner and trainer, Phil Sims. Sims will transport Don’t Tell Sophia to Oaklawn, where he already has a 21-horse stable in place.

“She’s still at Keeneland,” Sims said Wednesday. “She’ll be there this weekend. We gave her a little time off and she’s been back training for about a week and a half. She’ll have her first breeze back after Christmas.”

Sims said the $100,000 Pippin at Oaklawn on Jan. 17 is penciled in for Don’t Tell Sophia. She has won the last two runnings of the race. Earlier this year, she captured the Grade 1 Spinster at Keeneland.

Broberg back at Oaklawn

Karl Broberg, who leads all trainers in wins in North America in 2014, moved a 20-horse division into Oaklawn on Tuesday. He said it is the first time he has had horses at the track in several years. Broberg’s local group includes Honey’s Ryan, winner of the $100,000 She’s All In Handicap at Remington on Sunday, and Diva’s Diamond, who was second in the race. Honey’s Ryan is probable for the Pippin, said Broberg, while Diva’s Diamond will be considered for that race or the $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic at Sam Houston on Jan. 24.

Broberg will also have a division of horses at Sam Houston, which opens Jan. 16. He said multiple stakes winner Heitai is possible for the track’s $75,000 Frontier Utilities Turf Sprint on Jan. 24. Broberg also has divisions at Delta Downs and Fair Grounds.

◗ Sam Houston announced new faces for the meet will include trainers Ken McPeek, Ben Colebrook, and Jeff Thornbury.

◗ There were 968 horses stabled at Oaklawn as of Tuesday, according to racing secretary Pat Pope.