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Odds-On Favorite As Times Goes By Noses Out Longshot This Tea In Santa Maria

A runaway 9 ¼-length winner of her most recent Grade 2 stakes assignment, As Time Goes By was all-out to prevail by a nose over 23-1 longshot This Tea in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Santa Maria Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif. Trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Mike Smith, As Time Goes By stalked the early pace and got 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.77.

Breaking from the outside of a four-horse field of fillies and mares, 3 and up, As Time Goes By was content to track speedster Miss Stormy D to the far turn, where she took charge by a neck at the three-furlong pole. From there, she had to work to shrug off Miss Stormy D to her inside and then faced the challenge of This Tea to her immediate outside, with well regarded Ce Ce unable to mount a challenge four-deep turning for home.

“I told Mike, we've been going easy on her, not too hard for this race,” said Baffert, who registered his meet-leading 14th stakes victory. “Today, this is the first time she's come back really blowing. That filly that ran second, ran a big race. “(My filly's) heart and true grit made her hang in there. We knew Miss Stormy D was quick, and you could tell turning for home that my filly wasn't doing it that easily.”

When asked what might be next for As Time Goes By, Baffert responded, “Right now, with the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar, we wanna keep her here and run her here in the fall.”

A scintillating gate to wire winner of the Grade 2 Santa Margarita Stakes going a mile and one eighth on April 24, As Time Goes By was off at 2-5 and paid $2.80 and $2.10 with no show wagering.

“They ran good, you know, my hat's off to the filly that finished second, she ran a huge race,” said Smith. “The Lakers don't always blow every team out, every now and then you gotta fight it out, and that's what she had to do today.

“She'll get more out of this race. After she ran the last time out, they kind of backed off her a little bit. She's a big mare with a big frame and she'll tend to gain some weight and I could tell she was a little more stocked today. She got a little tired, but she'll get a whole lot out of that.”

Owned by Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith, As Time Goes By, a 4-year-old filly by Baffert's 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, out of the Dehere mare Take Charge Lady, notched her second stakes win and improved her overall mark to 7-4-2-1.

With the winner's share of $120,000, As Time Goes By increased her earnings to $380,600.

Ridden by Kent Desormeaux for trainer George Papaprodromou, This Tea, who was second by 9 ¼ lengths to As Time Goes By in the Santa Margarita, came within a nose of turning the tables in a huge effort. The longest shot in the field at 23-1, she paid $6.60 to place while finishing eight lengths clear of Miss Stormy D.

Ce Ce, ridden by Victor Espinoza, was off at 3-2 but tired badly through the lane while never threatening.

Fractions on the race were 23.83, 47.12, 1:10.95 and 1:36.98.

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Weekend Lineup Presented By Form2Win: Fillies & Mares In The Spotlight

On Saturday, female stars match up at Santa Anita Park as Ce Ce and As Time Goes By square off in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 2 Santa Maria, and at Churchill Downs, Frank's Rockette and Sconsin are set to battle under the lights in the Grade 3 Winning Colors at 6 furlongs.

TVG will be broadcasting racing throughout the weekend from Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park, and more. Fans can tune in on TVG, TVG2 and the Watch TVG app, which is available on Amazon Fire, Roku and connected Apple TV devices.

“America's Day at the Races” will be live on Saturday, May 22 on FS2 from 1-3 p.m., and from 4-11:30 p.m., featuring the live programming at Belmont Park and Churchill Downs. On Sunday, May 23, “America's Day at the Races” will air on FS2 from 1-3 p.m., and from 4-5:30 p.m. ET.

Saturday, May 22

4:35 p.m. ― $200,000 Grade 2 Santa Maria Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier and Derek Smith's 4-year-old filly As Time Goes By, a 9 ¼- length winner last time out in the Grade 2 Santa Margarita Stakes, and Bo Hirsch's two-time Grade 1-winning 5-year-old mare Ce Ce, are set for a showdown in Saturday's $200,000 Grade 2 Santa Maria at Santa Anita Park at 1 1/16 miles. Regally bred, As Time Goes By, the 2-5 morning line favorite, is a dark bay daughter of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah out of Take Charge Lady, by Dehere. Trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Mike Smith, As Time Goes went wire to wire in the 1 1/8-mile Santa Margarita on April 24. Prior to that score, she finished second to last year's 3-year-old filly champion Swiss Skydiver in the Grade 1 Beholder Mile at Santa Anita. Ce Ce is trained by Michael McCarthy, fresh off saddling Rombauer to victory in last Saturday's Grade 1 Preakness Stakes. In 2020, Ce Ce, a chestnut daughter of Elusive Quality won the Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn and the Beholder Mile. She tuned up for Saturday's race by winning a 7-furlong allowance optional claiming race at Santa Anita on April 17. Victor Espinoza has the mount from post 3.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA052221USA2-EQB.html

5:12 p.m. ― $100,000 Seek Again Stakes at Belmont Park on FS2

Eight older horses (with two also-eligibles) have been entered for Belmont's Seek Again at 1 mile on turf, with Juddmonte's 6-year-old Flavius, who has run at seven U.S. tracks since arriving from Ireland in 2019, the 2-1 morning line favorite. Trained by Chad Brown, and breaking from post 10 under Javier Castellano, Flavius was beaten a length while finishing fourth in the Grade 1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita on March 6. Brown also saddles the 5-year-old Delaware (GB), who won Aqueduct's listed 1-mile Danger's Hour on April 10. West Point Thoroughbreds, William T. Freeman, William Sandbrook and Cheryl Manning's 4-year-old Decorated Invader returns to Belmont where last year the son of Declaration of War won the Grade 2 Pennine Ridge and was second in the Grade 2 Hill Prince for trainer Christophe Clement. Decorated Invader also won the Grade 2 National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Stakes at Saratoga after the Pennine Ridge. In his first start of 2021, Decorated Invader finished third in the Danger's Hour. Joel Rosario rides Decorated Invader from post seven. The Thomas Bush-trained 4-year-old Get Smokin won last year's Hill Prince, and has a victory this year in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Stakes. Get Smokin will be ridden by Junior Alvarado from post five.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL052221USA9-EQB.html

7:19 p.m. ― $100,000 Grade 3 Honeymoon Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

CYBT, Michael Dubb, Saul Gevertz, Michael Nentwig and Ray Pagano's Going Global (IRE), unbeaten in three starts in 2021 since arriving from Ireland, and Kaleem Shah's Madone, a four-time winner, lead seven 3-year-old fillies in the Grade 3 Honeymoon Stakes going 1 1/8 miles on turf. Going Global, trained by Phil D'Amato and ridden from post six by Flavien Prat, has won in succession the Grade 3 6-furlong Sweet Life, the listed 1-mile China Doll and the Grade 3 1 1/8-mile Providencia Stakes, all at Santa Anita. Madone, trained by Simon Callaghan and ridden by Juan Hernandez from post seven, won her first three starts last year, which included the listed Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf, and the Surfer Girl at Santa Anita. In November, she finished eighth in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Keeneland, unable to sustain a drive after the turn for home. Her 2021 debut was in the Grade 3 Senorita Stakes on May 1. After stumbling at the start, the bay daughter of Vancouver (AUS) stayed just off the rail in the upper stretch and then surged between horses to win by a length. Pizzazz, owned by Perry Bass II and Ramona Bass, won the California Oaks at Golden Gate Fields on April 24 for trainer Richard Mandella.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA052221USA7-EQB.html

7:57 p.m. ― $150,000 Grade 3 Winning Colors at Churchill Downs on FS2

Frank Fletcher Racing's Frank's Rockette and Lloyd Madison Farms' Sconsin are the likely favorites headlining six older fillies and mares in the Grade 3 Winning Colors, going 6 furlongs at Churchill Downs. Trained by Bill Mott, Frank's Rockette, a seven-time winner, has been off the board just once in 13 starts. That one start was against males in last year's Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint, where she finished 11th. Prior to the Breeders' Cup Sprint, Frank's Rockette won the Grade 3 Victory Ride, the Grade 2 Prioress and the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom Handicap. She made two listed starts at Oaklawn Park this year, winning the American Beauty and finishing second by three-quarters of a length in the 6-furlong Carousel on April 10. A 4-year-old daughter of Into Mischief, Frank's Rockette will be ridden by Florent Geroux from post two. Sconsin, trained by Greg Foley, was second by 1 ½ lengths to champion female sprinter Gamine in the Grade 2 Derby City Distaff on May 1 at Churchill. Last September, Sconsin, a 4-year-old by Include, won the Grade 2 Eight Belles presented by TwinSpires.com, also at Churchill. Sconsin will break from post four under Tyler Gaffalione.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/CD052221USA5-EQB.html

10:11 p.m. ― $110,000 Keertana Stakes at Churchill Downs on FS2

Maram's Delta's Kingdom seeks her first win of 2021 as the 5-2 morning line favorite in the $110,000 Keertana at Churchill Downs, one of 10 older fillies and mares entered for the 1 1/2-mile test on turf. Trained by Bill Mott, Delta's Kingdom, a 5-year-old by Animal Kingdom, finished second in the Grade 3 Bewitch at Keeneland on April 23. Ridden by Florent Geroux from post eight, Delta's Kingdom also finished second in the Grade 2 La Prevoyante at Gulfstream in January. Silverton Hill's Pass the Plate, third in the Bewitch, finished second in Churchill's Grade 3 Mrs. Revere last November for trainer Paul McGee. Rafael Bejarano rides Pass the Plate from post five. Bal Mar Equine's 5-year-old gray/roan Dalika (GER), won the Albert M. Stall Memorial on Feb. 13 at the Fair Grounds, a race named after the father of her trainer, Al Stall Jr. Miguel Mena has the mount from post 10.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/CD052221USA9-EQB.html

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Distaffers Ce Ce, As Time Goes By Square Off In Santa Maria Stakes

A two-time Grade 1 stakes winner at age four and fresh off a sensational classified allowance win, Bo Hirsch's homebred Ce Ce and lights-out Grade 2winner As Time Goes By headline Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Santa Maria Stakes at Santa Anita. For fillies and mares three and up, the Santa Maria has attracted a field of five at a mile and one sixteenth.

Trained by recent Preakness Stakes-winning conditioner Michael McCarthy, Ce Ce slingshotted off the turn for home en route to an emphatic 3 ¼ lengths score in a seven furlong classified allowance here on April 17 and will be ridden back by Victor Espinoza.

A 3 ¼ length winner of the Grade 1 Beholder Mile here in her sixth career start on March 14, 2020, Ce Ce then took Oaklawn Park's Grade 1 Apple Blossom by a head at the same distance on April 18, 2020, but was a disappointing third as the 3-5 favorite in last year's Santa Maria and was on a four-race losing streak prior to winning her comeback race on April 17.

Ridden to all five of her victories by Victor Espinoza, Ce Ce is a 5-year-old mare by Elusive Quality out of Hirsh's Grade 1 winning Miss Houdini, by Belong to Me. The leading money earner in the field with $904,100, Ce Ce has a win and two thirds from three tries at the Santa Maria distance.

Trained by Bob Baffert, As Time Goes By made an easy lead as the 3-5 favorite in the Grade 2 Santa Margarita Stakes here on April 24 and exploded through the lane to win off by 9 ¼ lengths under Mike Smith, who rides back on Saturday. Owned by Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith, As Time Goes By, who was second, beaten 2 ¾ lengths by Eclipse Champion Swiss Skydiver two starts back in the Grade 1 Beholder Mile March 13, is 6-3-2-1 overall with earnings of $260,600.

THE FIELD FOR THE GRADE 2 SANTA MARIA WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 2 of 9 Approximate post time 1:30 p.m. PT

Last First Kiss—Abel Cedillo—122
This Tea—Kent Desormeaux—122
Miss Stormy D—Juan Hernandez—122
Ce Ce—Victor Espinoza—122
As Time Goes By—Mike Smith—126

First post time for a nine-race card on Saturday is at 1 p.m. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

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