As Time Goes By gets a Grade 1 win in Beholder Mile

As Time Goes By rolled to a 2 ¼-length win in Saturday’s $500,000 Beholder Mile (G1) to give the royally-bred 5-year-old her first Grade 1 victory.

This is also the first time her trainer Bob Baffert won the historic race, which was named the Vanity until 2017.

Sent off as the heavy favorite in the field of four fillies and mares, As Time Goes By stumbled coming out of the gate, but quickly recovered and surged to the lead in the first furlong. She opened up by four lengths after a half-mile in :46.22, and was never seriously threatened at any point after that, coasting under the wire to stop the timer in 1:37.55 on a fast track.

“We got the Grade 1!  I talked (the owners) into another year with her,” said Baffert.  “She gets better with age.  She is such an exciting and classy mare.  She never breaks a sweat.  (Jockey Flavien Prat) was aggressive with her early and put her into the race.   I think the longer the better with her.  These (American) Pharoah horses are fast, he has meant so much to racing.”

As Time Goes By is by Baffert’s 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah and out of Broodmare of the Year Take Charge Lady, also the dam of Grade 1 winners Will Take Charge and Take Charge Indy.

With Saturday’s win, As Time Goes By has a record of 7-3-1 in 14 starts, with five graded stakes wins and earning of $955,600 for owners Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith.