As Time Goes By Newest GI winner For American Pharoah

Less than two hours after American Pharoah saw son Forbidden Kingdom win the Grade II San Felipe Stakes on Saturday, As Time Goes By (5m American Pharoah x Take Charge Lady, by Dehere) went even better when becoming her sire’s fourth Grade I winner with a win in the Beholder Mile.

Second in the race last year, As Time Goes By bumped with Varda as the field broke from the gate but was quickly into stride in the one-mile dirt race. The Coolmore partners homebred was dominant at every stage from then on out, cruising a few lengths in front of the rest of the field under Flavien Prat. Grade III winner Miss Bigly tried to stage a challenge in the stretch but it was no good with As Time Goes By winning by 2 ¼ lengths in the end.

Trained by Bob Baffert, As Time Goes By has won seven of her 14 starts with five of those coming at the graded stakes level. In all, the mare has finished on the board in 11 of 14 starts for over $955,000 in earnings.

“She is such an exciting and classy mare,” said Baffert. “She never breaks a sweat. I think the longer the better with her. These (American) Pharoah horses are fast. It’s a great day for Pharoah horses. American Pharoah has meant so much to racing.”

As Time Goes By is the third Grade I winner for three-time Grade I winner and Broodmare of the Year Take Charge Lady. That grand producer has also thrown Champion 3-Year-Old Will Take Charge and Grade I Florida Derby winner Take Charge Indy.

Take Charge Lady is also the granddam of Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Take Charge Brandi and three-time Grade I winner Omaha Beach in addition to Grade I-placed Courage Under Fire. Take Charge Brandi has proven the producing power runs throughout the generations as the dam of this year’s Jerome Stakes winner Courvoisier.

American Pharoah is now the sire of two Grade I winners on dirt and two on turf with both of his dirt Grade I winners winning the races in the past two weeks.