Bajan tallies second straight stakes

Speightstown’s up-and-coming 2-year-old filly Bajan registered her second straight stakes win on Saturday with a widening 2 1/4-length win in the $100,000 Moccasin S. at Hollywood Park (VIDEO). The bay filly trained by Simon Callaghan took the $75,000 Anoakia S. last month at Santa Anita Park.

Speightstown’s 21 stakes winners have accounted for 32 stakes victories this years, most of any North American stallion. WinStar recently announced Speightstown’s 2014 stud fee of $80,000 LFS&N.

Trailing early in the field of five juvenile fillies, jockey Victor Espinoza angled Bajan outside pacesetter Sergeant O’Rourke and Lemon de Oro for the stretch run. Asserting herself in the final eighth of a mile, Bajan cruised home an easy winner in 1:24.26 for the seven furlongs.

“It went to plan,’’ said Callaghan. “We took back and the good thing about her is she is so rateable and so sensible. She just sits back and travels and has that turn of foot.
“I think we’ll definitely consider the (Grade 1, $500,000-guaranteed Hollywood) Starlet (Dec. 7) now. She galloped out strong and we’re picking up the distance steadily. She’s shown she is a really good filly.’’
She’s going in the right direction,’’ echoed Espinoza. “She’s very easy to ride and when I ask her to go she’s quick, really fast. It’s nice to ride horses like that.
“She’s such a nice filly right now and she’s still learning. She’s going to be a really nice filly.’’
The victory was the third in five starts for the Kentucky-bred, who is out of the Aptitude mare Critikal Reason, who is a half-sister to Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Lemons Forever.