American Pharoah's Sister Chasing Yesterday to Debut
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Photo: Zoe Metz
Chasing Yesterday trains at Del Mar July 26
Trainer Bob Baffert always seems to have one in the wings, but Chasing Yesterday, the morning-line 6-5 favorite in Del Mar's first race July 28, is no secret.
The half sister to the 12th Triple Crown winner, American Pharoah , has been followed by many, and her debut, which is now set in the 5 1/2-furlong test for 2-year-old fillies, is highly anticipated. Mike Smith will ride the Tapit filly from the outside post 7.
Bred in Kentucky by her owner Summer Wind Equine, Chasing Yesterday has turned in steady timed works since June 5, first at Los Alamitos and Santa Anita Park before a July 18 five-furlong work at Del Mar. From the gate, she posted a final time of 1:00 3/5 to be sixth-fastest of 48 at the distance that day. That work was followed by a four-furlong breeze in :47 3/5 July 23 in which she was third-fastest of 43.
American Pharoah, also trained by Baffert, won eight grade 1 races before retiring with a record of 9-1-0 from 11 starts and $8,650,300 in earnings.
Littleprincessemma, dam of the siblings, has also produced grade 1-placed American Cleopatra; stakes-placed winner St Patrick's Day, who is still in training with Aiden O'Brien overseas; and her first foal, Xixixi, a winning son of Maimonides. The Yankee Gentleman mare has an unraced yearling, named Theprinceofthebes, who is a full brother to American Pharoah, as well as a 2018 Tapit colt named Triple Tap.
Two other first-time starters with solid pedigrees will challenge Chasing Yesterday in Saturday's maiden race for juvenile fillies.
Morning-line second-choice Scarlet also boasts a consistent string of workouts, although trainer Richard Mandella started her at the end of April. The Uncle Mo filly is a half sister to grade 3 winner Wild At Heart. The siblings are out of the stakes-placed Honor Grades mare Lady Cerise.
The other with pedigree backing her is Lily Con. The Verrazano filly is a half sister to two graded stakes winners—2008 Matron Stakes (G2) winner Doremifasollatido and 2004 Pebbles Stakes (G3T) winner Fortunate Damsel. In training with Richard Baltas at San Luis Rey Training Center, Lily Con is set to break from post 4.