A Delaware Court of Chancery judge has denied fast-tracked appeal of a decision earlier this month that kicked a fight for control of four investment funds to a Kentucky state court, where an influential pension fund is defending its move to replace general partners with in-house staff.

Vice Chancellor Joseph R. Slights III on Monday refused Bay Hills Capital’s request to take its case directly to the state Supreme Court, after Slights stayed the San Francisco-based private equity firm’s lawsuit in favor of a similar action in Kentucky.