Superbly bred As Time Goes took charge soon after the start and was unchallenged en route to an easy win Saturday in the $500,000 Beholder Mile Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park.
The 5-year-old daughter of 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah out of multiple Grade 1 winner and 2013 Broodmare of the Year Take Charge Lady was second in last year's edition of the race but won in fine style this year, leading at every point of call and taking the one-mile test for older fillies and mares by 2¼ lengths in 1:37.55 at the Arcadia, Calif. track.
The victory was the second victory from as many starts this year for As Time Goes By and first at the highest level.
Sent off the 1-5 favorite, she returned $2.
Ridden by Flavien Prat for trainer Bob Baffert, As Time Goes By bobbled a bit at the start after bumping with eventual third-place finisher Varda but soon sprinted clear between rivals and opened a two-length lead through an opening quarter in :22.76. She widened to 3½ lengths as a half mile went in :46.22 with Varda in pursuit before weakening.
Roused entering the stretch along the rail, As Time Goes By was urged on to maintain her advantage as Miss Bigly chased in vain and was still comfortably clear at the finish line.
“She broke a little flat foot,” Prat said. “We kind of brushed each other and after that I had to hustle her a little bit to get (us) in the race, but after that I was travelling well and I felt like I was in control.
“It felt like when she felt that filly (Miss Bigly) coming at her she kind of regrouped and went on again so, it was nice.”
As Time Goes By is a homebred for Coolmore Associates Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith. She came into the Beholder Mile off a 13 ½-length victory on New Year's Day in the La Canada Stakes (G3) after closing 2021 with a triumph in the Bayakoa Stakes (G3) at Los Alamitos.
Taking her record to 7-3-1 from 14 career starts, she has five graded wins and earnings of $955,600.
As Time Goes By's win was the second in a graded stakes on the card for offspring of American Pharoah, whose son Forbidden Kingdom took the San Felipe Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds by seven lengths.
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