Chasing Yesterday fights hard for Anoakia Stakes win

ARCADIA, Calif. – Chasing Yesterday gave a determined performance to win Sunday’s $77,500 Anoakia Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Santa Anita, catching pacesetter It’sjustanillusion in the final strides.

The victory was a milestone first stakes win for Chasing Yesterday, a filly by Tapit who is a half-sister to American Pharoah, the 2015 Horse of the Year and Triple Crown winner. Chasing Yesterday ($3.20) won by a half-length over 8-5 It’sjustanillusion, who left winning rider Drayden Van Dyke and winning trainer Bob Baffert impressed with her tenacity.

“The horse that finished second made me run,” Van Dyke said. “That horse dug in. I thought I’d go by a little easier.”

It’sjustanillusion, an Uncle Mo filly trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, led by as much as 2 1/2 lengths while setting quick fractions of 21.49 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 44.72 for a half-mile. Chasing Yesterday was fourth in the field of five in the first quarter-mile and advanced to second in early stretch.

It’sjustanillusion led by a head with a furlong remaining and could not sustain her advantage.

“Right here, I felt good,” Baffert cracked to owner Jane Lyons and her friends as he watched the replay of the filly approaching the wire.

It’sjustanillusion finished 4 1/2 lengths clear of third-place finisher Andyoushallreceive, who was followed by Marrazano and Watch Me Burn.

The Anoakia Stakes was the second start for It’sjustanillusion, who won a maiden special weight race at six furlongs here on Sept. 30.

Chasing Yesterday has won 2 of 3 starts and earned $84,250. Chasing Yesterday won her debut in a maiden special weight race at 5 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar on July 28 and was seventh as the 8-5 favorite in her stakes debut in the Grade 1 Spinaway Stakes at Saratoga on Sept. 1.