Bridgmohan captures Stakes win in record time

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (CMC):

Jamaican riding star Shaun Bridgmohan partnered with favourite Covfefe to destroy the field in record-breaking time and win the feature US$125,000 Dogwood Stakes at Churchill Downs on Saturday.

Going seven furlongs for the three-year-old fillies, the pair stalked pacesetter Take Charge Angel before bursting to the front at the top of the stretch and producing a stunning run to reach the wire eight lengths clear in a stakes-record one minute, 20.51 seconds.

The victory, coming in her first start in nearly two months, was her fifth in seven outings and pushed her earnings up to US$560,025.

IMPRESSIVE DEVELOPMENT

“The way she’s developed since she was young is what impresses me the most,” Bridgmohan said.

“I’ve worked her since she was a two-year-old, and she’s developed into a very special filly. What is most spectacular about her is how smart she has become.

“She is able to sit off the pace even with her natural speed. It’s a lot of fun being the passenger on one like this.”

Bridgmohan broke the bay filly sharply but pulled her back, allowing Take Charge Angel to post the early fractions of 22.49 seconds and 44.95.

Istan Council, ridden along the rails in third, led the pack of four chasing the leaders as the race headed towards the far turn.

Coming off the final turn, Covfefe drew level with Take Charge Angel, with Free Cover sweeping into contention on the outside.

However, once inside the last three-sixteenth of a mile, Covfefe exploded to leave her challengers in her wake, storming to the wire impressively.

The victory for Bridgmohan was his third in the Dogwood following successes in 2005 and 2009.