As Time Goes By Wins G2 Santa Maria

As Time Goes By (4f American Pharoah x Take Charge Lady, by Dehere) added a second straight graded stakes victory to her record on Saturday with a win in the Grade II Santa Maria Stakes.

Racing over 1 1/16 miles on the dirt, As Time Goes By took up a spot just off the leader as they raced around the oval. Entering the far turn, As Time Goes By confronted the pacesetter and put her head in front to take command. While she left that leader behind, This Tea started to make up ground on the lead and was getting closer with every stride.

The line came just in time with As Time Goes By keeping her nose in front to record her third win of the year with her only loss being a second in the Grade I Beholder Mile. Bred by Opendale and Chelston, As Time Goes By is trained by Bob Baffert for the Coolmore partners.

“(My filly’s) heart and true grit made her hang in there,” said Baffert. “We knew Miss Stormy D was quick, and you could tell turning for home that my filly wasn’t doing it that easily. Right now, with the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar, we wanna keep her [in California] and run her here in the fall.”

As Time Goes By is out of bluehen broodmare and multiple Grade I winner Take Charge Lady. In addition to being the dam of champion Will Take Charge and Grade I winner Take Charge Indy, Take Charge Lady is also the granddam of champion Take Charge Brandi, triple Grade I winner Omaha Beach, and Grade I-placed Courage Under Fire.

Take Charge Lady is also a half-sister to two stakes winners with her stakes winning half-sister also the dam of Grade II winner and Grade I-placed Straight Story.

As Time Goes By’s victory came only hours after American Pharoah saw his Champion 2-Year-Old son Van Gogh finish third in the Group I Irish 2000 Guineas.