As Time Goes By Heads 2021 Santa Margarita Stakes

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 one eighth in the Grade 2, $200,000 Santa Margarita Stakes at Santa Anita Park on Saturday, April 24.

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 Grade I Beholder Mile in a very impressive effort. A nine-length first condition allowance winner going one mile two starts back on Jan. 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 one eighth.

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 I stakes winning Dehere mare Take Charge Lady, is 5-2-2-1 and is seeking her first stakes victory.

Simon Callaghan's Harvest Moon,a two-time graded stakes winner, pressed the early pace and tired late to finish fourth, beaten seven 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 two starts back to super mare Monomoy Girl in the Grade I Breeders' Cup Distaff 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 four wins from seven starts, Harvest Moon will try a mile and one eighth for the second time.

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Clockstrikestwelve Steps Down in Santa Margarita

Clockstrikestwelve, who put together a five-race winning streak before moving up in company against champion Swiss Skydiver in the Grade I Beholder Mile last out on March 13, steps down a grade in Saturday's Grade II Santa Margarita Stakes.

Bred in Kentucky by Gary and Mary West, the five-year-old New Year's Day mare owned by Michael Rosenmayer would be making only her second stakes start in the mile-and-one-eighth Santa Margarita for fillies and mares, four and up.

Favored in four races during her winning skein, Clockstrikestwelve understandably was a longshot at 45-1 against Swiss Skydiver, finishing sixth of seven in a wide trip.

"She got sharp and got happy since we brought her to Santa Anita from Golden Gate," said trainer Jonathan Wong, a successful mainstay in the Bay Area who has also transitioned his winning ways to Southern California.

"She's been training really well and running really well."