Bajan Tries Dirt in Anoakia Stakes

Bajan runs in her first race on traditional dirt in Sunday’s $70,000 Anoakia Stakes. Both her rider and her trainer think she’ll like it.

The 2-year-old Speightstown filly is trained by Simon Callaghan and will be ridden by Victor Espinoza, who has been aboard in each of her three career starts, all on synthetic surfaces, once at Betfair Hollywood Park and twice at Del Mar. She was bumped at the 3/16 mark in her last start, the Grade I Del Mar Debutante on Aug. 31, but both rider and trainer tend to dismiss that incident.

“She ran pretty hard the time before,” Espinoza said, referring to her nose maiden win on Aug. 10. “In my opinion, I think she’s better on dirt than synthetic and she’ll show it Sunday.”

Callaghan concurs. “I agree,” he said. “The bump didn’t affect her at all. I think she’ll definitely be a lot better over this track. She’s worked a lot better over this surface.”

The field for the Anoakia, race three of nine: Smoove It, Mario Gutierrez, 8-1; Spring Moon, Martin Garcia, 6-5; E Equalsmcsquared, Martin Pedroza, 6-1; Bajan, Espinoza, 2-1; and Cadron, Rafael Bejarano, 5-2.