Hollywood Park: Bajan targeting Hollywood Starlet Stakes

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – After winning two sprint stakes this fall, Bajan will make her debut around two turns in the $500,000 Hollywood Starlet Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park on Dec. 7.

On Saturday, Bajan won the longest race of her career in the $100,000 Moccasin Stakes for 2-year-old fillies over seven furlongs, leaving trainer Simon Callaghan with the impression that the Grade 1 Starlet over 1 1/16 miles is suitable.

“I think we’re going to target the Starlet,” Callaghan said. “It’s nice to see her go seven-eighths and relax. That should give her a chance to get the extra distance.”

Owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Ronald Frankel, Bajan won the Moccasin Stakes by 2 1/4 lengths under a patient ride from Victor Espinoza. Bajan was last of five on the backstretch and moved into contention with a three-wide move on the turn.

“That was pretty smooth,” Aron Wellman of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners said of the performance.

Bajan won the Anoakia Stakes over six furlongs at Santa Anita in October. In her only appearance in a Grade 1 race, Bajan was sixth in the Del Mar Debutante over seven furlongs Aug. 31 after encountering trouble in early stretch.