As Time Goes By Heads Santa Margarita

ARCADIA, CA – Fresh off of a second-place finish to the mighty Swiss Skydiver, As Time Goes By looms the horse to beat going a mile and 1/8 in Saturday’s $200,000 Santa Margarita Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita.

First run in 1935, the prestigious Santa Margarita, which was not offered last year due to a cessation of racing caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, has attracted a field of five older fillies and mares for what will be its 83rd running.

Trained by Bob Baffert, As Time Goes By was beaten 2 3/4 lengths by Swiss Skydiver, last year’s Eclipse Champion Dirt Female, in the Beholder Mile (G1) in a very impressive effort. A 9-length first condition allowance winner going 1 mile 2 starts back on January 17, As Time Goes By finished strongly in the Beholder Mile at odds of 9/5 and should be ready for her first test at a mile and 1/8.

Owned by Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith, As Time Goes By, a 4-year-old daughter of 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah out of the multiple Grade 1-winning Dehere mare Take Charge Lady, is 5-2-2-1 and is seeking her first stakes victory.

A 2-time graded stakes winner, Simon Callaghan’s Harvest Moon pressed the early pace and tired late to finish fourth, beaten 7 lengths by Swiss Skydiver in the Beholder Mile and will be ridden for the seventh consecutive time by leading man Flavien Prat.

A close fourth 2 starts back to super mare Monomoy Girl in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) November 7 at Keeneland, Harvest Moon, a 4-year-old filly by Uncle Mo out of the Shamardal mare Qaraaba, was bred by Alice Bamford and is owned by Bamford and Michael Tabor.

With 4 wins from 7 starts, Harvest Moon will try a mile and 1/8 for the second time.

Pharoah’s Heart, This Tea, and Clockstrikestwelve complete the field.

The Santa Margarita is carded as race 8 on Saturday’s 11-race card, has an approximate post time of 4:30 PM Pacific, and shares the spotlight with the Crystal Water Stakes.