Chasing Yesterday set for 3-year-old debut in Sunland Park Oaks

An appearance in the $200,000 Sunland Park Oaks on Sunday was not what trainer Bob Baffert envisioned for his promising 3-year-old filly Chasing Yesterday at the start of the month.

A Grade 1 winner at Los Alamitos in December, Chasing Yesterday was supposed to have her 3-year-old debut in the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes at Santa Anita on March 10, but the race was canceled when the track launched an investigation into its racing surface earlier this month following a series of equine fatalities.

The Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 3 is a goal for Chasing Yesterday, and the Sunland Park Oaks serves as a suitable prep under the circumstances.

“Who could have thought they’d see a sister to a Triple Crown winner at Sunland Park,” Baffert said on Thursday.

Chasing Yesterday, by Tapit, is a half-sister to American Pharoah, the 2015 Triple Crown winner and that season’s Horse of the Year. Even with her regal pedigree, Chasing Yesterday, who races for Summer Wind Equine, is well on her way to establishing her own reputation.

A four-time winner in five starts, Chasing Yesterday finished her 2-year-old season with a hard-fought win in the Grade 1 Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos in December.

In recent weeks, Chasing Yesterday has worked fast at Los Alamitos and Santa Anita in preparation for the Sunland Oaks, which is run at 1 1/16 miles. The race appeals to Baffert largely because of a gap of slightly less than six weeks to the Kentucky Oaks.

“I think it’s good timing,” Baffert said.

Chasing Yesterday will be heavily favored in the Sunland Park Oaks, which will have one notable absence in Bellafina, a five-time graded stakes winner trained by Simon Callaghan. Bellafina will remain in Southern California for the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks on April 6, Callaghan said on Thursday.

Chasing Yesterday’s primary rival is Victim of Love, the winner of the Island Fashion Stakes at a mile at Sunland Park in her stakes debut Feb. 24.

The 12-race program at Sunland Park is led by the Grade 3 Sunland Park Derby. In addition to the Sunland Park Oaks, there are five other stakes, all worth $100,000. Two of those races are for open company, and three are for New Mexico-breds.

Escape Clause, the winner of the Grade 3 La Canada Stakes at Santa Anita in January, runs in the $100,000 Harry Henson Handicap for fillies and mares at a mile. Escape Clause, trained by Don Schnell at Turf Paradise, will carry 121 pounds, two fewer than topweight Heavenhasmynikki, a multiple stakes winner trained in California by Bob Hess Jr.

Trainer Steve Asmussen starts Clever Serve, a stakes winner at Remington Park in December. Clever Serve has finished in the first three in 13 starts since she was claimed for $20,000 in September 2017, winning four times in that span. Clever Serve has earned $225,660 for Asmussen.

“She’s definitely been one of my better claims,” Asmussen said this week.

The $100,000 Bill Thomas Memorial Stakes for older horses at 6 1/2 furlongs is an enticing betting race, with six stakes winners in the field of nine.

Trainer Blaine Wright, who starts Anothertwistafate in the Sunland Park Derby, will run Anyportinastorm in the Thomas Stakes. This will be the first start for Anyportinastorm since a sharp win in the Zia Park Sprint in New Mexico last November. Anyportinastorm has worked quickly at Golden Gate Fields in Northern California in recent weeks.

“It’s a pretty good test for him,” Wright said.

All Out Blitz, who drew the outside post, is another contender from California. Trained by Callaghan, All Out Blitz won an allowance race with a $62,500 claiming option at a mile at Santa Anita in January and was fifth in the Grade 3 Razorback Handicap at 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn Park in February after setting the pace.

Callaghan said this week that All Out Blitz may be more effective in a one-turn race like the Thomas.

Earlier on the program, the five-time stakes winner Blazing Navarone will be favored in the $100,000 New Mexico State University Handicap for statebreds at a mile and 70 yards. Trained by Henry Dominguez, Blazing Navarone is unbeaten in two starts this year, both at Sunland Park.

Sunscreen, a stakes winner at Ruidoso Downs last summer, drew the outside post in the $100,000 New Mexico Breeders’ Derby at 1 1/16 miles. Trained by Casey Lambert, Sunscreen was a well-beaten second to Hustle Up in the Red Hedeman Mile at Sunland Park on Feb. 2. Hustle Up is entered in the Sunland Park Derby.

Precious Looker, undefeated in two starts, will start in the longest race of her brief career in the $100,000 New Mexico Breeders’ Oaks at 1 1/16 miles. Trained by Gerald Marr, Precious Looker won the Enchantress Stakes for statebreds at a mile Feb. 2, beating Singing Mary, who is part of the New Mexico Breeders’ Oaks field.

– additional reporting by Mary Rampellini