What to watch for: Chasing Yesterday tries stakes again

There’s no doubt Keeneland and Woodbine will turn out impressive turf races with their stakes this week, but Santa Anita Park will receive special attention for one of its smaller stakes. American Pharoah’s little half-sister, Chasing Yesterday, is likely to return to the races, where she’ll have a chance to rebound off her last effort.

It’s the last major weekend ahead of the Breeders’ Cup, as most of the big horses are preparing for the World Championships.

Here’s what we’ll be watching for:

American Pharoah’s sister runs at home

Chasing Yesterday, the 2-year-old half-sister to American Pharoah, will likely get another go at stakes company. This time she’ll remain at her Southern California base to run in Sunday’s Anoakia Stakes at Santa Anita Park. 

Sired by Tapit, Chasing Yesterday was an impressive debut winner at Del Mar. The 4 ¼-length win convinced trainer Bob Baffert to send her to Saratoga for the Spinaway, where she ran into trouble. After going off as the favorite, Chasing Yesterday struggled over the track, gained no ground and finished seventh.

Baffert speculated it could have been too much too soon. It also didn't help that she lost a shoe in the race. Chasing Yesterday has been working at Santa Anita Park since late September and has three respectable works registered. She’ll also have the benefit of running out of her own stall versus shipping.

Baffert nominated a second filly for the six-furlong sprint but said Chasing Yesterday will likely be the only one running. The other nomination is Mother Mother, second in the Del Mar Debutante.

Also probable for the Anoakia is Andyoushallreceive, a debut winner at Los Alamitos, and Watch Me Burn, a winner in maiden claiming and starter optional claiming. She was last of five in the Debutante.

A true international race at Woodbine

The Grade 1 Canadian International is shaping up as an intriguing field between the locals, the Americans and the Europeans. A handful of Grade/Group 1 winners are likely to contest the 1 ½-mile turf event at Woodbine, making it an international event to look out for.

Leading the home team is Johnny Bear, a two-time winner of the Northern Dancer Turf Stakes. The 7-year-old gelding was winless for a year in between the two races. He’ll look to carry that same form into the Canadian International and make up for a 10th-place run last year.

Spring Quality leads the American contingent. He picked up his first Grade 1 in the Manhattan Stakes during Belmont Stakes weekend, got the show finish in the Sword Dancer Invitational, then ran a puzzling seventh in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic. Motion also has Mekhtaal, a Group 1 winner in France who was second in the Northern Dancer after moving stateside.

Other strong American runners include Funtastic and Focus Group from the Chad Brown stable. Funtastic broke through in the Grade 1 United Nations before turning around to run seventh in the Sword Dancer. Focus Group is also in the improve, recently winning the John’s Call Stakes. Brad Cox-trained Arklow also looks dangerous off his Kentucky Turf Cup victory.

An interesting European runner is Thundering Blue, third in the Juddmonte International behind Roaring Lion before winning the Stockholm Cup International. German Group 1 winner Khan joins the fray along with Group 3 winner Desert Encounter.

3-year-old fillies take to Keeneland turf

Rushing Fall has showed a liking to the Keeneland turf, and she’ll be back Saturday for the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup. The QE II is 1 1/16 miles, the same distance as Rushing Fall’s Jessamine win at 2. Last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf champion also won at a mile here in the Appalachian. She has five wins from six career starts, finishing second in her lone loss.

Her main stateside competition would likely be Fatale Bere, who won the Del Mar Oaks in her last start. Nyaleti and Mission Impassible, grouped stakes winners from Europe, are also among those invited to the Keeneland feature and are listed as probable.

Final “Win and You’re In” qualifier

Wednesday’s Grade 2 Jessamine Stakes marks the final “Win and You’re In” Breeders’ Cup qualifier, with the winner receiving a spot in the Juvenile Fillies Turf. The Jessamine is 1 1/16 miles over Keeneland’s turf, with My Gal Betty and Fierce Scarlett leading the way.

Fierce Scarlett hails from the Chad Brown stable and has a maiden win from two starts. The Florida-bred daughter of Scat Daddy ran this same distance at Belmont Park when she won by 4 ½ lengths. My Gal Betty is making the trip from Canada for trainer Roger Attfield. She’s been on the board in all four starts, including a win in the Catch a Glimpse Stakes and a runner-up finish in the Natalma. The Jessamine will be her first start beyond a mile.