Jermaine Bridgmohan emulates older brother

When jockey Jermaine Bridgmohan was presented with the opportunity to ride for trainer Steve Asmussen on a regular basis this meet at Remington Park, it did not take him long to make a decision. Not only has he watched his older brother, Shaun, carry on a successful relationship with the stable, but it was a chance to do business with the leading trainer in North America.

"He does nothing but win," Jermaine Bridgmohan said of Asmussen. "I was hoping to meet his expectations. I think we've done a pretty good job up to this point, and we're looking to keep it going to the end of the meet."

Bridgmohan has been a regular in the winner's circle at Remington, where he led the standings by nine wins heading into Friday night's card. In his first season at the track, he has compiled a record of 39 wins from 131 starts for mount earnings of $718,669.

Asmussen, who is the leading trainer at Remington, said Bridgmohan, 21, has been an easy fit for the barn.

"I think he had a lot of insight coming in, what I want and what I expect, talking to his brother," Asmussen said. "He was a natural choice as far as bringing someone in fresh, and he had a lot of success at Calder."

Bridgmohan, a native of Jamaica who grew up in Florida, posted the first victory of his career at Calder on Aug. 6, 2006. Not long afterward, he took the Tropical at Calder title, setting a record for jockey wins at the meet. Bridgmohan won 110 races during the 60-date season to shatter the previous mark of 84 wins. He would go on to be the leading apprentice at the Meadowlands in 2007.

For both Jermaine and Shaun, 30, it was their father who sparked their interest in racing.

"He always wanted to have a riding career and never got a chance to do it," Jermaine said. "He always had a passion for the horses and it rubbed off on Shaun and me. And then Shaun ended up riding and I just kind of fell into it. I fell in love with it."

Dad required both boys to graduate from high school before they could launch riding careers, and Jermaine was such a strong student he earned an academic scholarship to the University of Florida.

"I never pursued it because I wanted to ride," he said.

Bridgmohan would have studied veterinary medicine. Instead, his focus these days is keeping his excellent year in the saddle rolling. Bridgmohan's mounts have earned $2.8 million so far in 2009, a career best. And during the current Remington meet, he is winning at a 30 percent rate.

Que Paso targets Zia stakes

Que Paso, who last month won the $75,000 Unbridled at Louisiana Downs, is being pointed for the $60,000 Veteran's Stakes at Zia Park, said his trainer, Allen Milligan. The 1 1/16-mile race is Nov. 7.

The Veteran's is expected to produce starters for the $200,000 Distance Championship at 1 1/8 miles at Zia on Dec. 6.

Que Paso won an allowance at Remington one start before the Unbridled.

* Bubbler, who won her debut by 6 1/2 lengths, will meet winners for the first time in the eighth race Sunday at Remington. Eddie Martin Jr. has the mount on the Bret Calhoun-trained filly, who won a six-furlong maiden special weight in a quick 1:09.60.

* Sunday is breast cancer awareness day at Zia, where jockeys are scheduled to wear pink silks and employees are donning the color. During the card, funds will be raised for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.