As Time Goes By Dominates G3 La Canada

American Pharoah’s regally bred daughter As Time Goes By (5m American Pharoah x Take Charge Lady, by Dehere) registered her fourth career stakes victory in the Grade III La Canada Stakes at Santa Anita.

It was a dominating performance by the American Pharoah mare, who applied pressure to Park Avenue every step of the way in the 1 1/16 mile dirt race until taking over with three furlongs left. It looked at first like Park Avenue would have a chance to fight back but it was all an illusion with As Time Goes By starting to roll far into the turn.

Flavien Prat asked her for more early in the stretch and it was clear the dark bay didn’t need extra urging as she continued to open up on the field throughout. Her seven furlong lead going into the final furlong turned into a geared down 13 ½ length romp at the wire with American Pharoah also the sire of the fourth placed Fi Fi Pharoah.

“This filly keeps getting better and better with age,” said trainer Bob Baffert. “I’m really excited. She has always been a barn favorite of mine. She’s got that American Pharoah temperament. I am expecting big things from her from here. She will stay here, and I think the Grade I Beholder would be next for her.”

An Orpendale and Chelston homebred, As Time Goes By is raced by the Coolmore partners and is the last foal out of the top racemare and bluehen broodmare Take Charge Lady.

Take Charge Lady also produced champion Will Take Charge and Grade I winner Take Charge Indy in addition to the dam of champion Take Charge Brandi and three-time Grade I winner Omaha Beach. As Time Goes By was the second stakes winner of the afternoon for the family with Take Charge Brandi’s son Courvoisier winning the Jerome Stakes earlier in the day.

With three crops on the ground, American Pharoah is the sire of 12 graded stakes winners, 23 stakes winners, and 40 stakes performers, led by Grade I winners in three different countries.

His 15 stakes winners in 2021 alone was the best of any Northern Hemisphere third crop sire last year while his number of cumulative blacktype winners, graded stakes winners, and 11 Grade I performers is the best of any Northern Hemisphere third crop sire overall.