Jockeys Bridgmohan, Gallardo going full time at Woodbine
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Jockey agent Tom Patton has made some noise at Woodbine by lining up the accomplished journeymen Shaun Bridgmohan and Antonio Gallardo to ride here full time beginning this week.
Bridgmohan, 42, the brother of former local rider Jermaine Bridgmohan, has won 3,349 races in North America, including 285 stakes. He was the Eclipse Award-winning apprentice in 1998. Gallardo, 34, has 2,066 victories. He has five riding titles to his credit at Tampa Bay Downs, and was the leading jockey four times at Presque Isle Downs.
“I think the caliber of riders here has just shot up,” said Patton, who represented the now-retired Eurico Da Silva. “When you’ve won as many races as Shaun, I don’t care who you are, you’re pretty good, and he’s been riding against the best. He’s been second in the Kentucky Derby, and second in Breeders’ Cup races. He’s done it all.
“Antonio has been the second-leading rider in North America twice in wins. In the last seven years, he’s been in the top six five times. I think they’re both really good riders.”
Patton said both jockeys have obtained a work permit from the Canadian government. Both are double-vaccinated, and have undergone rigorous Covid testing since entering the country.
Bridgmohan missed the board on his first two mounts here Sunday. He rides the probable favorite R U Watchingbud for trainer John Ross in Thursday’s fourth race going 6 1/2 furlongs for $7,500 claimers.
R U Watchingbud is winless in his last nine starts, dating back to his final start of 2019. He was protected by waiver claiming when third in his season debut against $7,500 opposition. The high quality of that race was validated when the top two finishers stepped up to optional-starter company and ran one-two again.
Gallardo has a mount in each of the last three races on Thursday. He rides Amalfi Sky in the sixth, a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special for 3-year-old fillies. Amalfi Sky was fourth on debut in a key maiden special last August, but the daughter of Sky Mesa never started again until June 19, when she was softened up in a speed duel going seven-eighths. Trainer Kevin Attard is putting her on Lasix.
Gallardo will get a leg up from trainer Darwin Banach on Elusive Society in the seventh, a $25,000 maiden-claiming route. Elusive Society is adding Lasix off a wide sixth-place finish in her season opener in a turf sprint.
Gallardo rides a contender in the nightcap, Dad’s Missy, who was a close second in another $10,000 non-winners of two sprint in her season opener. Steve Attard conditions Dad’s Missy, who peaked around this time last year.