As Time Goes By wins Santa Maria at Santa Anita 

Coolmore Australia shuttler American Pharoah (Pioneerof The Nile) notched up his 15th stakes winner when As Time Goes By (4 f ex Take Charge Lady by Dehere) won Saturday’s Santa Maria Stakes (Gr 2, 8.5f). 

The Bob Baffert-trained As Time Goes By settled down in second behind Miss Stormy D (Tapizar) in the four runner field. Moved up by Mike Smith, As Time Goes By took the lead before the home turn and held to score by a nose from This Tea (Curlin) who battled down the straight. Miss Stormy D was eight lengths adrift in third. 

“I told Mike, we’ve been going easy on her, not too hard for this race,” said Baffert.

“This is the first time she’s come back really blowing. That filly that ran second, ran a big race.”

Bred by Orpendale and Chelston and raced by Michael Tabor, Mrs John Magnier, and Derrick Smith, As Time Goes By is out of triple Grade 1 winner Take Charge Lady (Dehere), making her a half-sister to the dam of dual Grade 1 winner Take Charge Brandi (Giant’s Causeway) and Spendthrift Australia shuttler Omaha Beach (War Front), as well as the Grade 1 winning pair Take Charge Indy (A P Indy) and Will Take Charge (Unbridled’s Song) as well as four other winners. 

American Pharoah will stand for $49,500 (inc GST) at Coolmore Australia this spring. His 15th stakes winners include Group / Grade 1 winners Harvey’s Lil Goil, Cafe Pharoah and Van Gogh.