Yesterday's News gets back to sprinting – for now

ARCADIA, Calif. – Yesterday’s News was second in the Grade 1 Starlet Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Los Alamitos on Dec. 9 in her final start of 2017, a fine conclusion to a season for a filly purchased for $30,000 in May.

For her first start of 2018, Yesterday’s News will run in the Grade 2 Santa Ynez Stakes at seven furlongs on Sunday at Santa Anita. She is sprinting for the first time since July, and trainer Simon Callaghan said she’ll be better going two turns.

Owned by Paul and Zillah Reddam, Yesterday’s News set the pace in the Starlet Stakes and finished 3 1/4 lengths behind Dream Tree, who stalked the pace. Callaghan is banking on a quick pace to help Yesterday’s News stalk expected front-runners Artistic Diva and War Heroine on Sunday. She breaks from post 6 in a field of nine.

“I think the race should set up well for her,” he said. “They’ll go a good gallop.

“She’s got a good post and I’m happy with that. She’s been training super out of the last race. She’s not missed any time and seems to be doing really good.”

Yesterday’s News won a maiden race at a mile at Del Mar on Sept. 2 after finishing fourth sprinting at Los Alamitos and Del Mar in July.

“She’s progressed quite a bit since then,” Callaghan said. “It took a race or two to get her act together.”

The Santa Ynez is the first of three stakes for 3-year-old fillies leading to the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks at 1 1/16 miles on April 7. Yesterday’s News could start later this winter in the Grade 2 Las Virgenes Stakes at a mile on Feb. 4, or the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on March 3.