Chasing Yesterday breaks through in Starlet at Los Alamitos

Chasing Yesterday proved game in her return at the top level Saturday. The half-sister to American Pharoah overcame a wide turn for home and put away two stubborn fillies to win the Grade 1, $300,000 Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos.

The victory gave the Summer Wind Equine homebred 10 points toward the 2019 Kentucky Oaks. It also awarded trainer Bob Baffert with a sweep of the Los Alamitos Futurity (G1), won by Improbable two races earlier, and the Starlet for the second year in a row.

Chasing Yesterday first entered graded stakes company in Saratoga's Spinaway (G1). She won on debut at Del Mar, but struggled at the Spa and finished seventh while losing a shoe. Once back in California, she took Santa Anita's Anoakia Stakes and Del Mar's Desi Arnaz Stakes. 

The Starlet was her chance of Grade 1 redemption.

Baffert’s other trainee, Mother Mother, set the pace and led through fractions of 23.25, 47.07 and 1:11.17. Sold It, Enaya Alrabb and Vibrance followed. Jockey Drayden Van Dyke, who also rode Improbable, was patient with Chasing Yesterday. The pair settled in the back with Oxy Lady.

"We thought Mother Mother would be on the lead and I told (jockey Florent Geroux) just try to nurse her along," Baffert said. "(Chasing Yesterday) was so wide. Turning for home, I really thought Mother Mother was going to kick on and keep going."



Chasing Yesterday was forced to go around three horses as they turned for home. Mother Mother tried her best to hold on as Enaya Alraab threatened. Chasing Yesterday continued to grind it out down the stretch and make up the distance she lost in the turn. The chestnut daughter of Tapit showed her talent and got her head in front despite traveling farther.

"It was a really thrilling finish. I didn’t think (Chasing Yesterday) was going to get there because she had been so wide," Baffert added. "She’s a nice filly, but (Van Dyke) really sat patient. He loves this filly and he had a lot of confidence in her. This kid is like (Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick) Mahomes. He’s smart and has a lot of natural talent. Pretty nice to get a Grade 1 win with American Pharoah’s (half) sister."

She completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.59.

Enaya Alraab got up for second over Mother Mother, Oxy Lady, Sold It and Vibrance.

"Those two fillies inside her both ran super, but my filly dug in and just kept coming," Van Dyke said. "She really showed us she’s a half-sister to American Pharoah. Winning two Grade 1 races in the same day is amazing."