Chasing Yesterday best in three-horse Desi Arnaz Stakes

DEL MAR, Calif. – Chasing Yesterday on Monday at Del Mar won for the third time in four starts, wearing down the only two rivals she had left in the $92,000 Desi Arnaz Stakes for 2-year-old fillies while overcoming a slightly slow start and a headwind that made it feel, jockey Drayden Van Dyke said, “like we weren’t going anywhere.”

Chasing Yesterday has the potential to go places. The half-sister to Triple Crown winner American Pharoah has been given a couple of easy spots since losing the Grade 1 Spinaway Stakes in her second start at Saratoga, and now will return to Grade 1 company in the Starlet at Los Alamitos on Dec. 8.

“That’s the plan right now,” said her trainer, Bob Baffert. “This filly’s getting better. The longer the better. She’s matured a lot. She’s starting to grow, fill out.”

Up to this point, Chasing Yesterday has yet to try two turns. The longest she has raced is seven furlongs, in both the Spinaway and the Desi Arnaz. At Saratoga, in an 11-horse field, she did not get off cleanly and ended up resenting the spray of dirt. She wound up seventh. On Monday, even though her hind end slipped a bit leaving the gate, Chasing Yesterday was able to move into a stalking position outside her rivals, then proved best in the final furlong while moving into a strong headwind.

Chasing Yesterday ($3) was about two lengths behind It’sjustanillision and Boujie Girl through a fast opening quarter in 21.81 seconds, that aided by the tailwind on the backstretch. Chasing Yesterday made it three in a line with three furlongs to go after a half in 43.98 seconds. She led narrowly after six furlongs in 1:09.41, and took 14.40 seconds to push through the final furlong into the wind to complete seven furlongs on the fast main track in 1:23.81.

Chasing Yesterday finished first by 1 1/2 lengths over It’sjustanillusion, who was 1 1/4 lengths in front of Boujie Girl. Both Der Lu and Andyoushallreceive were scratched on Monday morning, reducing the field to three.

Chasing Yesterday, by Tapit, was bred and is owned by the Summer Wind Equine of Jane Lyon. She earned $60,000 on Monday and now has made $144,250.