Chasing Yesterday to bypass Kentucky Oaks 2019; who's in?

The half-sister of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, Chasing Yesterday, will not proceed to the Kentucky Oaks after finishing third in her final prep race, trainer Bob Baffert said Monday.

Baffert, speaking on Steve Byk’s At The Races radio show, said “we’re just going to give her a break right now” after the daughter of Tapit ran twice in three weeks.

On March 24, Chasing Yesterday hopped at the start of the Sunland Park Oaks but still managed to get up for a 1 1/4-length win. Then on Saturday, she wheeled back in the Santa Anita Oaks (G1), hitting the wire 8 3/4 lengths back of the likely Kentucky Oaks favorite Bellafina.

“They can all get beat, but she looks pretty spectacular right now,” Baffert told Byk of Bellafina, who’s now 3-for-3 this season for trainer Simon Callaghan. “I’ve been watching her all winter. She’s a big, strong filly.”

Baffert may still be represented on the first Friday in May by Godolphin’s Flor de La Mar, who ran second in the Santa Anita Oaks. That marked her third start, with an off-the-board finish on the slop sandwiched between a flashy Jan. 20 debut victory.

“She was in the one hole. She was sort of intimidated a little bit,” Baffert said. “She’s only had three outs. We’re going to take her to Kentucky, and we’ll train her. The quality’s there. She only got beat three lengths by the favorite of the Kentucky Oaks.”

One major Kentucky Oaks prep remains, Friday’s Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park that pays out points on a 100-40-20-10 scale to the Top 4 finishers. As many as 14 can go in the Kentucky Oaks.

See the current points picture below accounting for Chasing Yesterday’s defection with 80 points.

Also note that Serengeti Empress, who bled in her last start, is questionable to be ready, and that the Daily Racing Form’s David Grening reported Sunday that Gazelle (G2) winner Always Shopping is more likely to run back on Preakness Stakes weekend in the Black-Eyed Susan. Additionally, the Dubai-based Divine Image is unlikely to make the trip to the U.S., while Gazelle runner-up Positive Spirit is less than certain to try the Oaks.

“I'll have to talk with the owner, but it's not a priority," said trainer Rodolphe Brisset. "Since she won the Demoiselle, we've been saying we see her as more of a filly for the summer in Saratoga. A race like the Alabama could be a very good goal for her.”

Updated: Espresso Shot, trainer Jorge Abreu told Keeneland publicity on Tuesday, is also no longer under Oaks consideration from the Top 14.

1. Bellafina (132)

2. Champagne Anyone (113)

3. Always Shopping (110)

4. Street Band (105)

5. Out for a Spin (100)

6. Liora (71)

7. Restless Rider (62)

8. Serengeti Empress (60)

9. Jaywalk (550

10.Chocolate Kisses (51)

11. Jeltrin (51)

12. Positive Spirit (50)

13. Espresso Shot (50)

14. Flor de La Mar (40)

Next: Cookie Dough (40), Dunbar Road (40), Eres Tu (24), Sweet Diane (22), Oxy Lady (21).

More: Full Kentucky Oaks points leaderboard