As Time Goes By (American Pharoah), second behind Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) in last year's GI Beholder Mile, got the job done in the 2022 renewal of the race with an authoritative victory at Santa Anita Saturday. Sent off the 1-5 favorite while facing just three rivals, the dark bay mare was away half a step slowly, but was hustled out to the early lead. She was clear down the backstretch as the quarter went up in :22.76 and the half in :46.22. In front by three lengths at the top of the lane, As Time Goes By held off Miss Bigly, who gave valiant chase to the wire.
“She broke a little flat footed,” said winning jockey Flavien Prat. “We kind of brushed each other and after that I had to hustle her a little bit to get 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 coming at her, she kind of regrouped and went on again so, it was nice.”
As Time Goes By, winner of last year's GII Santa Margarita S. and GII Santa Maria S., was eighth in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff before ending the year with a win in the GIII Bayakoa S. at Los Alamitos. She opened 2022 with a 13 1/2-length romp in the Jan. 1 GIII La Canada S.
“She gets better with age,” said winning trainer Bob Baffert. “She is such an exciting and classy mare. She never breaks a sweat. I think the longer the better with her.”
Pedigree Notes:
As Time Goes By became American Phaorah's fourth Group/Grade I winner and gave him his second graded winner of the afternoon at Santa Anita, following Forbidden Kingdom's win in the GII San Felipe S. The Triple Crown winner was also represented Saturday by Disco Pharoah, a 19 1/2-length maiden winner in the first race at Aqueduct.
“These Pharoah horses are fast,” Baffert said. “It's a great day for Pharoah horses. American Pharoah has meant so much to racing.”
Take Charge Lady produced Charming (Seeking the Gold), dam of champion Take Charge Brandi (Giant's Causeway) and Grade I winner Omaha Beach (War Front). The blue hen mare is also the dam of Grade I winner Take Charge Indy (A.P. Indy) and champion Will Take Charge (Unbridled's Song).
Saturday, Santa Anita
BEHOLDER MILE S.-GI, $490,000, Santa Anita, 3-5, 4yo/up, f/m, 1m, 1:37.55, ft.
1–AS TIME GOES BY, 122, m, 5, by American Pharoah
1st Dam: Take Charge Lady (Broodmare Of The Year, MGISW, $2,480,377), by Dehere
2nd Dam: Felicita, by Rubiano
3rd Dam: Grand Bonheur, by Blushing Groom (Fr)
1ST GRADE I WIN. O-Tabor, Michael B., Magnier, Mrs. John,
and Smith, Derrick; B-Orpendale & Chelston (KY); T-Bob
Baffert; J-Flavien Prat. $300,000. Lifetime Record: 14-7-3-1,
$955,600. *1/2 to Take Charge Indy (A.P. Indy), GISW,
$1,103,496; and Will Take Charge (Unbridled's Song), Ch.
3-year-old Colt, MGISW, $3,924,648. Werk Nick Rating: B.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Miss Bigly, 122, m, 6, by Gemologist
1st Dam: Miss Puzzle (Aus) (SP-NZ), by Citidancer (Ire)
2nd Dam: Miss Tree (Nz), by Oregon
3rd Dam: Miss Kiwitea, by Truly Vain (Aus)
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($120,000 Wlg '16 KEENOV; $20,000 Ylg
'17 KEESEP). O-Agave Racing Stable, Living The Dream Stables,
LLC and Rockin Robin Racing Stables; B-SF Bloodstock LLC (KY);
T-Philip D'Amato. $100,000.
3–Varda, 120, f, 4, by Distorted Humor
1st Dam: She'll Be Right, by Sky Mesa
2nd Dam: Boogie Beach Blues, by Cure the Blues
3rd Dam: Lonely Beach, by Kennedy Road
($100,000 Ylg '19 SARAUG; $700,000 2yo '20 OBSAPR).
O-Baoma Corporation; B-Masters 2013 LLC & Distorted Humor
Syndicate (NY); T-Bob Baffert. $60,000.
Margins: 2 1/4, 7, 7HF. Odds: 0.30, 8.30, 9.10.
Also Ran: Envoutante. Scratched: Founder's Day, Moonlight d'Oro. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
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