NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (CMC) — Shaun Bridgmohan helped Chief Jay to enjoy his return to the dirt sprint, when he won the US $60,000 John E Jackson Memorial on Saturday’s 11-race card at Fair Grounds.

The Jamaican reinsman held off 6-4 second choice Flashy Wise Cat, under Kerwin Clarke, and steered the 9-1 bet to victory by a neck.

Chief Jay finished 1,100 metres in one minute, 03.39 seconds to make Bridgmohan the first jockey from the Caribbean to land a stakes victory for the year in North America.

Conditioner Sam Breaux seemed to have abandoned his attempt to transform the six-year-old, chestnut gelding into a route horse, when he entered him for Saturday’s co-feature.

Chief Jay had run well at Evangeline Downs before Breaux ran him two turns in his last four starts on the turf, but Bridgmohan helped to cement in the trainer’s mind that the animal is happiest over short distances on the dirt.

Bridgmohan held Chief Jay firmly off the pace of Foreign Production, under Carlos Gonzalex, in the six-horse field, and allowed My Star Runner, ridden by Miguel Mena, to take control at the top of the stretch.

The 31-year-old Bridgmohan brought Chief Jay three wide at the eighth pole, and took the lead in the final 100 metres.

Flashy Wise Cat, winner of the Louisiana Champions Day Sprint last month, did not have the same kick, and just failed to reach Chief Jay.