Small Field Set for Santa Maria

Friday, May 21, 2021 | 9:00 am

Updated: May 20, 2021 at 3:36 pm

As Time Goes By and jockey Mike Smith win the Grade II, $200,000 Santa Margarita Stakes, Saturday, April 24, 2021 at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia CA. © BENOIT PHOTO

A scratched-down field of four, led by co-headliners As Time Goes By (American Pharoah) and Ce Ce (Elusive Quality), will line up in Saturday's GII Santa Maria S. at Santa Anita.

The well-bred As Time Goes By, a half-sister to champion Will Take Charge (Unbridled's Song) from the immediate family of Omaha Beach (War Front) and Take Charge Brandi (Giant's Causeway), followed a strong second behind Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) in the GI Beholder Mile S. Mar. 13 with a blowout, front-running win in the GII Santa Margarita S. Apr. 24. Bob Baffert trains the Tabor, Magnier and Smith colorbearer.

Last term's Beholder Mile and GI Apple Blossom H. heroine Ce Ce closed out her 2020 campaign with a fifth-place finish in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff at Keeneland Nov. 7. The Bo Hirsch homebred returned from the bench for Michael McCarthy with a strong optional claiming tally going seven-eighths in Arcadia Apr. 17.