NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (CMC) — Jamaican jockey Shaun Bridgmohan guided the threeyear-old filly Akilina to a narrow victory in the Pago Hop Stakes for one of three wins at Fair Grounds racetrack on Saturday.

Akilina, a 6-to-5 favourite, won the one-mile event on soft turf conditions by a head in one minute 40.03 seconds for trainer Clement Christophe.

Under a determined ride from Bridgmohan, Akilina battled to the front entering the homestretch and fought off the 15-1 outsider Dancin Perfect to secure the narrow win in the US$59,400 event.

“She handled the soft turf very well,” Bridgmohan said.

Akilina raced behind the leaders early and quickened approaching the homestretch to grab a narrow lead in the upper-stretch.

Dancin Perfect, void of early speed, rallied boldly when set down for the drive and passed Akilina briefly in mid-stretch but could not stay with the winner late.

Bridgmohan acknowledged Dancin Perfect’s challenge while trying to keep his mount on a straight course.

“She drifted out briefly in the stretch but when circumstances allowed I was able to take corrective action and straighten her out before any damage was done,” Bridgmohan said.

Bridgmohan, the 1998 Eclipse Award winner as North America’s most outstanding apprentice rider, also won the fourth and fifth races for top trainer Steve Asmussen.

In the US$15,240 fourth race over 5-1/2 furlongs, Bridgmohan drove Just Cuvee (4-1) to victory by half-length in 1:06.38 and then easily landed the US$43,000 fifth race over 5-1/2 furlongs with the even-money favourite Mile Heir by 6-1/2 lengths in 1:05.21.