Bridgmohan/Asmussen
 

So if this continues who stands the most to pick up his horses?
http://www.drf.com/news/bridgmohan-l...ounts-asmussen

They were a cute couple.

I was in the paddock at Churchill one day and overheard another trainer tell Asmu, "you deserve to be in the Hall of Fame if you can win all those races riding Bridgmohan." :D

Oy vey. This isn't news, and I'm surprised Hersch thought it was worth even a blurb. This started months ago, when Bridgmo started taking wider calls.

It is probably time for Shaun to move on anyway

Nah, I think this is a little more significant. Bridgmohan was totally out of the loop over the last four racing days as Asmussen started 9 horses with different riders between Sunday and Tuesday. Bridgmohan had ridden the prior 23 Asmussen starters in a row at Fair Grounds. James Graham even got two mounts over the weekend and he's ridden 9 horses for Asmuseen in the last three years at FG.

Needless to say Bridgmohan's career will have a totally different look if he doesn't have Asmussen's business.

always questioned when/if this relationship was going to end. I don't think Ass. and his stock will skip a beat now that bridge is out of the picture. I'm sure guys like Albarado and Theriot will more than able to pick up the slack.
it's crazy how many great opportunities bridge got first call on, i don't think the guy is that great, and without Ass.'s business he should really suffer.

-bt-

Prior to really jumping on the national scene Asmussen was known as a serial jockey switcher. He would have a first call guy for some time then they would have an unceremonious break-up. It happened with Lanerie, Donnie Meche, and a multitude of others. If Bridgmohan is totally out of the loop by Saratoga then Dominguez will just ride the majority of his horses up there and that's generally a good thing.

Well Donnie Meche had some personal problems...

Indeed. You put that rather kindly.

More surprised it was initiated by Bridge than the other way.

There had been a similar break-off like this a few months ago as well.

Time heals all wounds. Watch Gomez and Baffert rekindle shortly.

Whoever becomes the 1st call rider will have to settle for 7.5% instead of 10%.

Who gets the raked 2.5pts? Owner, trainer or vet? Actually that's an awesome idea carve out pts for the vets, let them really go to town..lol

LOL who do you think? Asmussen of course. If you want to work for him you got to pay rent. Vet or jock.

He's doing this across the board?

He'll bully the tracks into giving him 5% more of the winners purse. What he needs is a beating.

He figures that the agent isnt working for the calls, as 1st call rider he just names him on whatever spot he enters in anyway.

For some reason I have a hard time believing he's doing this to guys like Gomez and Dominguez.

Doesnt the book keeper rake 10pts straight away? So he bills back the jock for his 2.5pts? WTF?

They arent first call riders like Bridgemohan or Meche before him. But he has 1st call riders at all the smaller tracks too. Pete Ferriola when he was leading trainer in NY used to make the bug riders ride for 1/2 when they rode for him. They needed the wins/exposure, he leveraged that need.

What difference does it make who the jock makes the check out to?

Maybe he has a valid idea. How much you think Bridge has cost Ass over the years with the way he rides? I bet you it's more than 2 1/2 percent.
:rolleyes:

The jockey is paying the % to someone either way.

I would not be surprised if this isn't happening in other places either. I know or a fact that some of the bigger trainers are getting 10% back from the vets.

Obviously it's not right, but really is there anything that the jocks could do about it? Are the jocks that close of a tight knit group (which I don't think they are) that they all could try to boycott and go on strike from riding for him? Realistically I know that would never happen cause some guys (especially lesser knows) would probably jump on the opportunity and do whatever is needed just to ride for a guy like Ass. Hell some guys would probably do it for less than the 7.5% just to get in the door.

I don't have a problem with it really. In the end the jock makes almost the same as he may dip into his own % to give the agent something. You do get to ride a ton of live horses though you are committed to one guy which may hurt your other business. But a 2nd tier rider will rarely get a chance to make as much money or ride as many live horses. Of course you do have to be able to take an ass chewing to ride in that spot

i'm a little surprised that all of this is catching people in here off guard. I had the same question years ago, and kept noticing Shaun Bridghmohan on damn near everything that was attached to asmussen, you gotta put 2 and 2 together. Guy kept giving really live horses to the same guy, and its not like he's a HOF, it makes total sense. Bridge takes a haircut for consistent live horses, give and take if you ask me. I can't imagine other trainers are blowing up his (bridge) phone for his services, its like a long term contract..... you've got job security and a great chance to make a lot of money and in turn you cut the guy a discount for that chance.

-bt-

If a jock like Bridgmo can ride a million winners a year for As-man when he realistically would otherwise ride 10 winners at each meet he goes to, then it may be worth it for him to take less per win for the guarantee.

A guy like Ramon might not be willing to take such a deal, even for "first call" status, but for Shaun it makes sense.

Bridgmo rides Awesome Bet for Asmussen in FG 7th today..