Hollywood Park: Bajan comes from off pace to take Moccasin Stakes

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Bajan is making victories in sprint stakes look easy this fall.

For the second time in a month, Bajan won a sprint stakes on Saturday, in the $100,000 Moccasin Stakes for 2-year-old fillies over seven furlongs at Betfair Hollywood Park. On Oct. 13, Bajan won the Anoakia Stakes over six furlongs at Santa Anita.

Bajan ($3.60) was timed in 1:24.26 in the Moccasin, and had a perfect trip under jockey Victor Espinoza. Bajan was last of five for the opening quarter-mile, moved into third after a half-mile and rallied three-wide to take the lead in early stretch. She won by 2 1/4 lengths over 3-1 For Emma.

The win left trainer Simon Callaghan impressed by Bajan’s patience.

“We’d hoped she’d do it that way,” Callaghan said. “It all kind of went to plan.”

Lemon de Oro finished third, 6 1/2 lengths behind the winner. Sergeant O’Rourke and E Equalsmcsquared were fourth and fifth. Perched was scratched.

Bajan races for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Ronald Frankel. By Speightstown, Bajan has won 3 of 5 starts and earned $159,150. She was a troubled sixth behind She’s a Tiger in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante on Aug. 31 in her stakes debut, sustaining a bump in early stretch.