Chasing Yesterday Shines Upon Debut at Del Mar
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Photo: BENOIT PHOTO
Chasing Yesterday breaks her maiden at Del Mar
The endless snaps of camera shutters as Summer Wind Equine's homebred Chasing Yesterday entered the Del Mar winner's circle provided a not-so-subtle hint that her debut victory July 28 was more than just an impressive maiden special weight score.
After she cruised to a 4 1/4-length victory in a 5 1/2-furlong dirt test—without jockey Mike Smith even thinking about using the whip—she nuzzled up with a few people in the winner's circle, displaying a demeanor like her most famous half brother, 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah .
Looking at the chestnut filly, however, it's not overly apparent of her relation.
Littleprincessemma, Chasing Yesterday's dam, is a chestnut, but her most notable foals—American Pharoah, grade 1-placed American Cleopatra, and stakes-placed St Patrick's Day—were all bays. Those three were all by Pioneerof the Nile , but Chasing Yesterday is by Tapit .
"She's a different type. She's slighter made, and I see a lot of Tapit in her. ... But she's got a mind like Pharoah," said winning trainer Bob Baffert. "She's very intelligent."
The trip Saturday couldn't have gone much better for Chasing Yesterday, as she broke well from the outside post in the field of seven, relaxed about a length off early leader Honeyfromthesouth, and breezed by at the top of the stretch to finish the distance in 1:04.44.
"She felt like she looked," Smith said with a laugh. "I even took a look at the (big screen on the infield) and said, 'Wow.' She's just so professional. You know Bob. He's just brilliant at getting them ready."
Honeyfromthesouth, who ran an opening quarter in :21.88, fought on to come in a clear second, 7 1/4 lengths ahead of third-place finisher Culver Miss.
"I knew (Honeyfromthesouth) could run, because (trainer) David Hofmans told me he had a runner in there," Baffert said.
As for the future, Baffert said the Sept. 1 Del Mar Debutante Stakes (G1)—American Cleopatra ran second in the race in 2016—could be next for Chasing Yesterday, but he hesitated a bit when he realized he might have several contenders for the race, like Mother Mother, who won her debut by 6 1/2 lengths at Del Mar July 22.
"I don't know if I'm going to run them together, so we'll play it by ear," Baffert said. "This filly definitely wants to go longer and I just like the way she laid off that filly really nice, and he asked her to go."