Fair Grounds: Bridgmohan works to rebuild list of clients

Back when he was riding nearly all Steve Asmussen’s horses in New Orleans, Shaun Bridgmohan was always a threat to have a huge day at Fair Grounds. Bridgmohan’s business model has changed since the Asmussen era, but the big days aren’t gone yet. Saturday, Bridgmohan booted home five winners on a 12-race card, winning two stakes while scoring victories for three different trainers.

The afternoon was especially satisfying for Bridgmohan, who came to New Orleans still in rebuilding mode after missing more than two months of action this fall because of a broken collarbone sustained on Sept. 10 in the Kentucky Cup Turf at Kentucky Downs. Bridgmohan broke his collarbone in three places, an injury that required surgery and hardware to repair, and that occasioned the longest layoff of his career.

“It’s been a little bit of a process because at the time I got hurt I was doing pretty good,” Bridgmohan said. “I had some decent horses I was riding and I lost all of them. Business mostly just stopped for me. I didn’t come in to this meet with any expectations. I came in trying to build my business back up. I just take it one day at a time.”

Even when he was riding primarily for Asmussen, Bridgmohan said, he worked to maintain relationships with other trainers. Steve Margolis is a prime example, and it was for Margolis that Bridgmohan rode two winners Saturday, including Cherokee Queen in the Blushing K.D. Stakes and the promising 2-year-old maiden winner Radiant Talent. Bridgmohan rode a winner for trainer Greg Geier, another for Bernie Flint, and – blast from the past – one for Asmussen.