Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier, and Derrick Smith's As Time Goes By began her 2022 season much the same way she started 2021—with a win. The newly turned 5-year-old was simply in a class of her own in the Jan. 1 $200,000 La Canada Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park, dominating the 5-horse field in a dazzling performance.
The promising Park Avenue, fresh off a convincing allowance optional claiming score at Los Alamitos Race Course, shotgunned to the front as jockey Flavien Prat positioned As Time Goes By just off her flank. Park Avenue clung to her lead through a :23.46 opening quarter and :47 half-mile before As Time Goes By poked her head in front into the turn for home. From there, it was all over, as Park Avenue failed to go with the older mare, who continued to pour it on down the stretch, gliding under the wire the easiest of winners.
“I got myself in the race and (As Time Goes By) was traveling super well and ran great down the lane," said Prat, who won six races Saturday at Santa Anita. "She settled nice and she had a nice target all the way around, and when it was time to make her run she was there for me.”
As Time Goes By's official margin of victory was 13 1/2 lengths. Park Avenue and late-running Moonlight d'Oro completed the trifecta.
"This filly keeps getting better and better with age," said trainer Bob Baffert. "I'm really excited. She has always been a barn favorite of mine. She's got that American Pharoah temperament. They seem to be late bloomers and she is getting better all the time. I am expecting big things from her from here. She will stay here, and I think the (March 5) Beholder Mile Stakes (G1) would be next for her."
The 3-5 post-time favorite, As Time Goes By ($3.20) ran 1 1/16 miles on a fast main track in 1:44.31. Collecting her fourth graded stakes tally in the La Canada, she improved her overall record to 6-3-1 from 13 starts for earnings of $655,600.
"We didn't expect her to win that easily," Tabor said during a post-race in-house television interview. "I was hoping she would win, which she duly did. Delighted. Very easy win."
Regally-bred, As Time Goes by is a daughter of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah out of the multiple grade-1 winning mare Take Charge Lady (Dehere). She has gone onto become a stellar broodmare, producing champion 3-year-old and Travers Stakes (G1) hero Will Take Charge and grade 1 winner Take Charge Indy . Her daughter Charming (Seeking the Gold) produced multiple grade 1 winner Omaha Beach , as well as champion 2-year-old filly Take Charge Brandi, the dam of recent Jerome Stakes victor Courvoisier.
Video: La Canada S. (G3)
Luck Swoops in Robert J. Frankel
A race before the La Canada, LNJ Foxwoods' homebred Luck ran like she didn't any need luck in rolling in the $101,000 Robert J. Frankel Stakes (G3T).
She overpowered her foes on sheer talent when angled out with a wide rally leaving the second turn and scored by 3 1/4 lengths over stablemate Bodhicitta. The outcome, in which the runner-up edged grade 1 winner Mucho Unusual by a nose for the place, gave trainer Richard Baltas a 1-2 finish.
"She's a very special filly," Baltas said of Luck.
Pacesetting Moraz, who set splits of :24.38, :49.26, and 1:12.50, weakened to fourth.
Prat rode Luck to victory. His mount completed 1 1/8 miles on a good turf course in 1:48.26.
"She had some pace to run at and she gave me a good kick when it was time to make a move," said Prat. "I was saving ground pretty much all the way around and around the quarter pole I thought I had a lot of horse and just wanted to get a good run, she responded well."
Bred in Kentucky, Luck ($3.80) is a 5-year-old mare by Kitten's Joy out of the group-3-winning Caerleon mare Gold Round, a half-sister to the great Goldikova. Luck becomes her dam's fourth stakes winner and her third group/graded winner. Seven of her foals have earned black type and she also has an unraced 2-year-old filly named Everlasting (Oscar Performance ).
Video: Robert J. Frankel S. (G3T)
