What next for Bridgmohan?

CHICAGO - Shaun Bridgmohan is five racing days away from the end of his first season at Arlington Park. But it has been many weeks since there was any suspense to the jockeys' race here this season.

Through Sunday, Bridgmohan had won 125 races from 545 starters, 46 more victories than the second-leading rider here, Chris Emigh. Bridgmohan, who drove here from New York the week before this meet began in May, said it was possible he could return next season.

"I mean, I wouldn't have a problem with coming back here," Bridgmohan said "I've done very well here, and it's an excellent place to be. I only think it could get better after being here one year. I like it in Chicago, so I don't think it'd be a problem coming back."

But next year is a long way off. In the near term, Bridgmohan said he has some stakes mounts to ride at Hoosier Park after the Arlington meet ends Sunday. He will find his way to Keeneland, he said, and believes he can win some races at that hotly competitive meet.

Bridgmohan said he intends to stick with his agent, Dennis Cooper, for the foreseeable future, and that he could winter in Florida, though he had made no firm plans so far.

Cooper has great Kentucky connections, but Bridgmohan has made inroads with local horsemen and has become the primary rider for trainer Wayne Catalano, who is closing in on his own record of 64 victories for a single meet.

"He's been more than 90 percent in the money for me," Catalano said. "He's been a day-in, day-out rider, consistent through this whole meet."

As for Catalano, he intends to set up shop at Hawthorne, where he will have 41 stalls. Catalano said he probably would winter in Florida.

Singhalese heads big field in Pucker Up

Last Saturday's Grade 1 Garden City for 3-year-old turf fillies at Belmont Park scratched down to a field of four, but this Saturday's Grade 3 Pucker Up Stakes, a race in the same division, could draw a field of 10 or more.

If she indeed makes the trip from California, Singhalese would be favored in the $200,000 Pucker Up. Singhalese, who won the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks in her last start, is trained by Jim Cassidy, who won the Pucker Up last year with the filly Ticker Tape.

Also possible for the Pucker Up are Flying Glitter, Gallant Secret, Grat, Isla Cozzene, Quiero Ganar, Royal Copenhagen, Sunny Disposition, Sweet Talker, and Unbridled Danz.

Anegada appears ready for graded stakes

Anegada won the $41,750 Flawlessy Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on turf here Sunday, and could be headed to graded stakes competition later this year, said her trainer, Tony Reinstedler.

"We'll shoot for something at Keeneland, but off the top of my head I don't know exactly what," Reinstedler said. "I think she's ready for bigger and better things."

Anegada was racing just 11 days after a sharp turf allowance win at Arlington, but showed no signs of weariness. Last of seven a quarter-mile from the finish, Anegada flew home in the middle of the track under jockey Brice Blanc and won by a neck.

"She doesn't like the turf that firm, and I think she fought a little bit with the ground," Reinstedler said. "But this time of year she really comes into her own, and all she really needs is some pace in front of her."