FLORENCE, Kentucky (CMC) — Shaun Bridgmohan made Blushing Dixie’s first career start at Turfway Park memorable, with a victory in the US$50,000 feature Fairway Fun Stakes on Saturday’s 12-race card.

The Jamaican reinsman and Blushing Dixie duelled with even-money favourite Miss Luann, under Irwin Rosendo, for the entire length of the stretch, and wore her down to take victory by a neck.

It was Bridgmohan’s eighth stakes win for the year in the United States, and the first career stakes victory for Blushing Dixie.

The five-year-old, bay mare finished 1,700 metres on the Polytrack in one minute, 45.88 seconds, a little over three seconds outside the track record.

“I thought she had a nice trip behind the speed, and when I was ready I kind of came up the inside,” said Bridgmohan.

“She dug in and fought all the way to the wire. She gutted it out real well.”

Blushing Dixie, a 4-1 third choice in the five-horse field of older fillies and mares, broke from the inside, and Bridgmohan settled her two to three lengths behind the moderate pace set by Miss Luann.

Bridgmohan challenged between rivals while off the rail on the second turn, where just a few lengths covered the entire field.

Entering the stretch, Bridgmohan put Blushing Dixie between Miss Luann and third-placed La Gran Bailadora, under Victor Lebron, and drove her relentlessly up the inside to land the victory.