Trainer's medication violation has Bajan Girl's next start up in air

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Part of the fallout from the recent suspensions of five locally based trainers due to clenbuterol violations centers on the fate of the graded stakes-placed Bajan Girl, who is being pointed to either the Grade 1 Spinster at Keeneland or Grade 1 Beldame at Belmont Park.

Bajan Girl is trained by Rohan Crichton, one of the five trainers named by Gulfstream owner 1/ST Racing as having violated a house rule when horses in their care tested positive for the bronchodilator clenbuterol. Gulfstream conducted out-of-competition testing on horses in 10 barns at the track and at the Palm Meadows training facility. The five trainers are prohibited from entering horses at any 1/ST Racing track from 10 to 40 days, depending on the number of horses who tested positive, beginning on Oct. 1.

The question concerning Bajan Girl is whether other jurisdictions plan to honor those suspensions, which were handed out based on a house rule rather than a stewards’ or commission ruling.

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Bajan Girl, who finished fourth in the Grade 1 La Troienne last spring at Churchill Downs and second in the Grade 3 Molly Pitcher this past summer at Monmouth Park, worked a sharp half-mile in 47.63 here Sunday, completing her final quarter in a strong 23.58 while going easily throughout.

“Right now she’s being trained towards her next start,” said Crichton, who has not been permitted on the grounds since the suspension went into effect on Friday. “Preferably we’ll be able to run her in the Spinster. Our second option is the Beldame. I’ve been very forthcoming with Keeneland and have asked if they will take my entry. There is also the possibility they would let my owners enter her with one of the other trainers they use in Kentucky.”

Bajan Girl is owned by Robert Slack and Daniel Walters. She has been with Crichton since launching her career at Gulfstream in December of 2019.

“This is particularly hard for me and I intend to do whatever is best for racing under the present circumstances, that’s what I’m aiming at,” said Crichton, who declined to discuss any of the other particulars regarding his suspension.

“She was a smallish filly when she came to me and I think she’s really grown up in the last five or six months. She’s put on a lot more muscle, and I’m hoping she’ll be one of those Speightstowns who get better as they get older.

“I think her race at Churchill Downs is her best so far. Luis [Saez] came back after the race and said his saddle slipped a bit, not a lot, but just enough that he couldn’t get after her the way he’d have liked. She’s the kind of filly who needs a little bit of a reminder when she runs, so the whip rule at Monmouth might have cost her that race too.”

Jockeys at Monmouth are not allowed to whip their mount except for reasons of safety.

Attempts to reach Keeneland officials on Monday regarding the status of Bajan Girl for the Spinster were unsuccessful.