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Bloodlines: As Time Goes By Extends The Legacy Of Take Charge Lady A Little Longer

Victory in the Grade 2 Santa Margarita at Santa Anita on Saturday, April 24, made As Time Goes By (by American Pharoah) the third graded stakes winner from her dam, Take Charge Lady.

The 4-year-old filly was making only her sixth start, and in her previous race and stakes debut, As Time Goes By had finished second in the G1 Beholder Mile to 2020 champion 3-year-old filly Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil).

A May 22 foal, As Time Goes By was not raced at two, then was brought along patiently by trainer Bob Baffert. The filly made her debut at Del Mar on Aug. 22 last year, and she won her first race in her third start, a maiden special on Dec. 13 at Los Alamitos over six furlongs. Leading from the half-mile (in :45.39), As Time Goes By drew off by 4 lengths to win in 1:09.01.

From three subsequent starts, all in 2021, As Time Goes By has won an allowance by 9 lengths, was second by 2 3/4 lengths to Swiss Skydiver in the Beholder, then won the Santa Margarita.

The last of 10 foals out of the dam, Broodmare of the Year Take Charge Lady, As Time Goes By is her dam's eighth winner and joined her older siblings Take Charge Indy (A.P. Indy) and Will Take Charge (Unbridled's Song) as graded winners. Take Charge Lady had won at the premier level three times (Ashland and two runnings of the Spinster), and her first stakes winner was Take Charge Indy, who won the 2012 G1 Florida Derby. The mare's second stakes winner came the following year with Will Take Charge, who won the G1 Travers and Clark, and also was second in the Breeders' Cup Classic to cinch the 2013 Eclipse Award as champion 3-year-old colt.

Bred in Kentucky by Orpendale and Chelston, As Time Goes By is by 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) and is the 15th stakes winner for her sire. From American Pharoah's first crop, As Time Goes By is the 13th stakes winner from the stallion's first crop.

Although several stakes winners by American Pharoah won stakes during their juvenile season, including Four Wheel Drive, winner of the G2 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, the improvement seen from such as Harvey's Lil Goil (G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes) and Pista (G2 Park Hill Stakes) seems to have inclined owners and trainers to wait with more of them.

In addition to As Time Goes By, some who are continuing to improve at four include Merneith, winner of the G2 Santa Monica on Feb. 13, and Café Pharoah, winner of the G1 February Stakes at Tokyo eight days later.

The latter is generally regarded as the best dirt horse in Japan, and it is notable that all three of these recent stakes winners have shown their best form on dirt. The early stakes winners by the Triple Crown winner had shown an unexpected affinity for turf, but the overall record for the sire is now trending strongly toward versatility, rather than a surprising specialization.

A big, scopey filly who has clearly made significant progress and strengthened, As Time Goes By adds a further layer of quality to a filly and mare division that is remarkable for depth with champions Swiss Skydiver, Monomoy Girl (Tapizar), Gamine (Into Mischief), and Letruska (Super Saver), as well as last season's Kentucky Oaks winner Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil).

In the event that As Time Goes By should add a victory in a G1 to her stakes successes, that would make her dam one of the few to produce three G1 winners.

There will not be more, however.

As Time Goes By is the last foal and sixth daughter out of 2013 Broodmare of the Year Take Charge Lady. A $175,000 select yearling at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky's July sale, Take Charge Lady earned more than $2.4 million at the races, winning a trio of Grade 1s and the Alcibiades Stakes, which now also shares that premium designation. The mare was sold at the 2004 Keeneland November sale for $4.2 million while carrying her first foal, Charming (Seeking the Gold), and Charming went through the ring two years later for $3.2 million at the Keeneland September yearling auction.

Like her famous dam, Charming has produced two Grade 1 winners. She is the dam of the 2014 Eclipse Award champion 2-year-old filly Take Charge Brandi (Giant's Causeway), winner of the BC Juvenile Fillies and the Hollywood Starlet, and of three-time Grade 1 stakes winner (Arkansas Derby, Malibu, Santa Anita Sprint Championship) Omaha Beach (War Front), now a stallion at Spendthrift Farm.

In 2021, Charming will be bred to American Pharoah.

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Bloodlines Presented By Mill Ridge Farm: Letruska Made Mexican Racing History With Apple Blossom Win

The brave victory of Letruska (by Super Saver) in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap over champions Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) and Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) brought forward a couple of important issues. First, this result highlighted the excellent form the mare had shown in her early racing, which was in Mexico, and then her continued development here in the States.

A champion in Mexico and now the victor against a pair of champions at Oaklawn, Letruska has emphasized the quality of racing in Mexico, and she is not the only racer from Mexico to show her form in the more northerly part of North America.

Recently, Kukulkan (Point Determined) won 14 races on the trot before finishing unplaced in the 2019 Pegasus behind City of Light. In addition, Kulkulkan won a pair of black-type stakes in the U.S. and was second in a G3 stakes. Jala Jala, another champion in Mexico, ventured to Gulfstream to win the Caribbean Cup, and from two subsequent U.S. starts, was second in the G3 Royal Delta.

Both of those were owned by St. George Stable, which also owns and stands their sire, the Point Given horse Point Determined.

Although bred in Kentucky, Letruska was likewise bred by St. George Stable LLC. That is the nom de course of German Larrea, a man of vast wealth who lives in Mexico City, where he oversees operations of Mexico's train service, as well as copper interests in Mexico and South America.

Larrea is also the leading breeder and owner in Mexico, where he races a stable of top horses. Letruska was one of these, winning each of her six starts at Hipodromo de las Americas. The last two of her races there were the G1 Clasico Esmeralda and Clasico Diamante.

Then the filly was shipped to the States, where she won her first start at Gulfstream in the Copa Invitacional del Caribe Stakes. In her 11 races since, Letruska has won six, including the G3 Shuvee at Saratoga and G3 Rampart at Gulfstream.

The Apple Blossom was the 5-year-old mare's first Grade 1 that is recognized by the International Cataloging Standards, which is the sales industry standard for recognition and uniformity of black type in sales catalogs.

The Cataloguing Standards Committee was formed in 1981 to create a policy and designation for black type in sales cataloging that was implemented in parts over succeeding years. This also was very nearly the apex of the international Thoroughbred market, and the desire to compare racing form and stakes qualifications from country to country was intense because a great deal of money was dependent upon buyers feeling confident that a G1 winner from one country was comparable to a G1 winner from another country.

Representatives of the four member nations (England, France, Ireland, and the U.S.) have also been joined by a member from South America and from Asia, and this committee then makes recommendations to the Society for International Thoroughbred Auctioneers (SITA), which publishes the “cat standards” that determine black-type recognition in catalogs.

The point of all this is to make black type and graded stakes accomplishments as consistent as possible, and the Part I countries that receive full recognition of their graded stakes programs include the four member nations and a dozen more such as Argentina, Australia, and South Africa.

For inclusion in sales catalogs, Part II countries get black-type designation for their graded or group stakes races but the grades are “for information only,” and black type does not apply to their other stakes events in countries such as India, Italy, and Korea. Part III countries do not receive black-type designation for any races, and among those designated Part III is Mexico.

Thoroughbred consultant Tom Thornbury said: “Cataloging is at the center of the industry. It is essential to the sales avenue, and there's worldwide interest in it. This drives the valuation of racehorses and bloodstock, and in Letruska you've found a gem really, a small part of that population of racehorses from Part III countries that has shown she is able to race with the very best.”

In fact, as Frances J. Karon writes in the Who's Hot, Who's Not blog at Werk Thoroughbred Associates, “Letruska is the first Thoroughbred racehorse from Mexico — either bred there, which she wasn't, or raced there — to win an internationally recognized G1 race.”

And there is no more disputing the form of Letruska's victory than quibbling with the grade; it's a supremely legitimate G1. Not only did the mare win the Apple Blossom against exceptional champions in Monomoy Girl and Swiss Skydiver, but in Letruska's most recent previous race, she finished second by head to Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil), winner of the 2020 Kentucky Oaks over no less than 2020 Eclipse champion filly sprinter Gamine and 2020 Eclipse champion 3-year-old filly Swiss Skydiver.

That's serious form.

Letruska has now won 13 of her 18 starts and more than $1.1 million. That's a handsome advance over the $100,000 that St. George Stable paid to acquire Magic Appeal, a stakes-placed daughter of Successful Appeal, at the 2015 Keeneland November sale. At the time, Magic Appeal was in foal to Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver and carrying Letruska.

Foaled on May 9 the following year, Letruska was the fifth foal from her dam and the third earner of black type. At the time of sale, however, none of those horses were on the dam's page. Her second foal, the Tiznow daughter American Doll, finished second in a stakes at Parx in 2016, and Magic Appeal's fourth foal, a yearling at the time of her sale, was Trigger Warning (Candy Ride).

Trigger Warning won a pair of stakes and was third in both the G1 Pennsylvania Derby and the G3 Ohio Derby, earning more than a half-million.

Magic Appeal has a 2-year-old colt named Ocotzingo (Hard Spun), a yearling colt by Arrogate, and is in foal to leading sire Malibu Moon for 2021.

Magic Appeal was the second-best racer by her dam, stakes winner Call Her Magic (Caller I.D.), and the best was full brother J.P.'s Gusto, winner of the G1 Del Mar Futurity and second in both the G1 Norfolk and Hollywood Futurity.

This family has plenty of quality, but Magic Appeal and her daughter Letruska have now added a footnote to history with their Grade 1 success at Oaklawn Park.

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Bloodlines Presented By Mill Ridge Farm: ‘Stock’ Is Rising For Breeders’ Futurity Grads

Last year's Grade 1 Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland is looking more and more like a key race for the classics this year. The winner was last year's champion juvenile colt, Essential Quality (by Tapit), who is still unbeaten and is the solid favorite for the Kentucky Derby next month.

The second-place finisher in the Breeders' Futurity was Keepmeinmind (Laoban), who won the G2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs in his next start, although he has not found his best form so far this season.

Farther back in the Futurity were a pair of well regarded colts who have taken a step forward, however, and they specifically did so over the weekend. Of those, Super Stock was third in the Breeders' Futurity, and the bay son of Dialed In dimmed some classic dreams with a victory by 2 1/2 lengths in the G1 Arkansas Derby over the previously unbeaten Concert Tour (Street Sense) and the well-regarded Caddo River (Hard Spun).

The Arkansas Derby was the first graded stakes victory for Super Stock, who was bred in Kentucky by Pedro Gonzalez and P.J. Gonzalez and then sold at the 2019 Keeneland September yearling sale to Erv Woolsey and Keith Asmussen for $70,000.

That was a solid price for a yearling by the good young sire Dialed In (Mineshaft), who also sired classic prospect Gunnevera in his first crop. Likewise, Dialed In was a classic contender during his own 3-year-old season with victories in the G3 Holy Bull Stakes and the G1 Florida Derby.

Super Stock comes from his sire's fifth crop and is one of 15 stakes winners by the stallion, who stands at Darby Dan Farm for $15,000 live foal. Dialed In's other 3-year-olds include Papetu, who ran third in the G2 Fountain of Youth; Get Her Number, who was fourth in the Arkansas Derby; and Exogen, who was second in the Cicada at Aqueduct.

Super Stock is the fifth foal and fourth winner from his dam, the Closing Argument mare Super Girlie. She is also the dam of Boujie Girl (Flashback), who was third in the G1 Del Mar Debutante. Super Girlie was barren in 2019 and has a bay yearling colt by Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy).

Super Stock's broodmare sire, Closing Argument, was second in the 2005 Kentucky Derby, beaten a half-length by Giacomo. So there are classic elements in the pedigree, although the dominant classic contributor would appear to be the male line from Seattle Slew, A.P. Indy, and Mineshaft.

Coming to the Arkansas Derby, Super Stock was already G1-placed from his finish in the Breeders' Futurity, giving him significant form against the best of his crop, and if he maintained that level, he should have been a major force in the race, which proved to be the case.

That was not the status of another racer from the Breeders' Futurity who returned to competition in the G3 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland on Saturday. King Fury (Curlin) had been beaten into eighth place in the Breeders' Futurity after going wide on both turns, but the chestnut son of the 2007-2008 Horse of the Year had come back 22 days later and won the listed Street Sense Stakes at Churchill Downs over Super Stock.

Attempts in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes had suggested that King Fury wasn't yet at his best, but the Lexington was the colt's seasonal debut and delivered results that have inclined trainer Kenny McPeek to favor a possible attempt at the Preakness Stakes in mid-May, which the colt's sire won in 2007.

Bred in Kentucky by the Heider Family Stables LLC, King Fury is the only foal out of G1 winner Taris (Flatter). Consigned to the Saratoga select yearling sale in 2019 through Hill 'n' Dale, King Fury brought $950,000 and races for Fern Circle Stables and Three Chimneys Farm.

Taris was bred in Kentucky by Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider and then was sold for $90,000 at the 2012 Keeneland September yearling sale to Commonwealth New Era Racing. After winning the G2 Raven Run Stakes at Keeneland, Taris sold to Coolmore for $2.35 million at the 2014 Fasig-Tipton November sale. The next year, Taris won another graded stakes and was third in the G1 Breeders' Cup Filly Sprint. At five, she won the 2016 G1 Humana Distaff and later was sold privately to the Heider Family Stables. Taris was retired for breeding in 2017 and died after foaling King Fury in 2018.

With his victory in the Lexington, King Fury made a significant step toward fulfilling the high hopes held for a racer of his pedigree and excellent physical character.

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Bloodlines Presented By Mill Ridge Farm: Malathaat And The Dream Family

Superstar stallions have the highest stud fees, not for their good looks, but for the number of their racers who show up on the weekend cards for the premier races. Once again, Curlin, Into Mischief, and Tapit scored heavily over the Easter weekend of racing, with the highly regarded Bernardini and Candy Ride picking up major stakes on opposite coasts, as well.

At Keeneland on Saturday, the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes went to Malathaat (by Curlin). Bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet and sold to Shadwell for $1.05 million at the 2019 Keeneland September yearling sale, Malathaat remained unbeaten with this victory in her fourth start, and she became the third generation of Grade 1 winners for her female line.

Malathaat is out of the A.P. Indy mare Dreaming of Julia, who won the G1 Frizette Stakes at Belmont Park as a 2-year-old and then ran second in the G1 Mother Goose the following year.

After retiring to stud, Dreaming of Julia was sent first to Horse of the Year Ghostzapper (Awesome Again) and produced a colt who was not named. In 2017, the mare produced Golden Julia (Medaglia d'Oro), who also died, and Malathaat is the third foal from Dreaming of Julia.

Of Golden Julia, Stonestreet adviser John Moynihan recalled: “We kept the Medaglia d'Oro filly the year before Malathaat, and Golden Julia was phenomenal. When we sent her to the training center in Florida, Ian [Brennan, trainer at the Stonestreet Training and Rehabilitation Center] said she was light years ahead of the rest in the crop, was phenomenal at every stage. As these things in racing do, however, she ended up getting hurt in a stall, she had a pelvis injury, and we lost her. It was heartbreaking because she was a Grade 1 horse if I ever saw one; I told Barbara that she'd have been one of the best we'd ever raced.”

The mare's 2-year-old is an unnamed colt by Medaglia d'Oro; she has a yearling full sister to Malathaat, a filly foal of 2021 by Medaglia d'Oro at Stonestreet, and goes back to Curlin.

As a Grade 1 winner, Dreaming of Julia was the most accomplished foal of her dam, Grade 1 winner Dream Rush, and she won half of her eight starts at two and three.

But, there would be some who might argue that the mare's other graded stakes-winning daughter, two-time Grade 3 winner Dream Pauline (Tapit), was just as good. A winner in four of five starts, Dream Pauline won the G3 Hurricane Bertie and Sugar Swirl Stakes at Gulfstream.

Both are broodmares at Stonestreet, and Dream Pauline had her first foal, a chestnut colt by Curlin, in February.

Their dam, Dream Rush, has produced three stakes winners, the two fillies above and the colt Atreides (Medaglia d'Oro), who likewise won four of his five starts, then went to stud in Kentucky at Hill n' Dale Farm (now at Xalapa).

On the racetrack, Dream Rush was one of three black-type performers out of the Unbridled mare Turbo Dream, who was unraced. Turbo Dream also is the dam of Adream (Bernardini), dam of the G3 winner Song of Spring (Spring at Last).

There is no question that Dream Rush was much the best of all the foals from Turbo Dream. Dream Rush won both her two starts as a juvenile, then advanced impressively as a 3-year-old to win the Old Hat Stakes at Gulfstream, the G2 Nassau County at Belmont, place second in the G1 Acorn, then win the G1 Prioress and Test Stakes before finishing unplaced in the 2007 Breeders' Cup Filly Sprint.

That race was Oct. 26 at Monmouth Park, and nine days later she was in the ring at the 2007 Fasig-Tipton November sale.

As agent for Halsey Minor, Debbie Easter bought Dream Rush for $3.3 million after a spirited bidding battle, and the then-3-year-old was sold as a racing or broodmare prospect.

Easter said, “She was a big, long, beautiful mare, and with a pair of Grade 1 victories. This was his first venture into broodmares, and she was what we were looking for as a foundation mare. Dream Rush was one of the most beautiful mares I've ever seen, had such a lovely attitude, and was a great athletic individual.”

Unfortunately, Dream Rush didn't reproduce her earlier form, coming back to race at four and five, but only placing third in the G1 Princess Rooney and second in the G2 Vagrancy.

“The point of the purchase,” Easter said, “was to acquire a foundation broodmare and that has worked out beautifully.”

The plan worked out for Stonestreet, rather than for Minor, who dispersed his stock after getting stuck in the Great Recession.

On acquiring Dream Rush from Minor, Moynihan recalled that “a year or two after the Fasig sale, he called, said that he remembered our bidding for Dream Rush, and asked if we'd be interested in buying the mare privately.

“When we bought her, it was about this time of year, and we were still waiting days to see if she was in foal from a cover to A.P. Indy,” and she was.

Dream Rush produced her first foal for Stonestreet in 2010, and that was Dreaming of Julia.

Since then, Dream Rush has had eight more foals, and after a pair of barren years in 2019 and 2020, the 17-year-old mare had a filly by Bernardini earlier this year. Moynihan noted that “we were trying to get a filly to carry on the line from Dream Rush,” and they got one.

Some dreams never go away, and some even come true.

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