Ce Ce, As Time Goes By Headline Santa Maria

Michael McCarthy, who just won his first Triple Crown race with Rombauer  in the May 15 Preakness Stakes (G1), has entered multiple grade 1 winner Ce Ce  in the $200,000 Santa Maria Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park May 22. The 1 1/16-mile Santa Maria attracted a field of five older staffers, including grade 2 winner As Time Goes By  from the Bob Baffert barn.

The Santa Maria is scheduled to go off at 1:30 PT as the second race on the nine-race card. Under the allowance conditions, As Time Goes By will carry 126 pounds, the others 122.

Bred in Kentucky by her owner, Bo Hirsch, Ce Ce won the 2020 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) and Beholder Mile Stakes (G1). The 5-year-old daughter of Elusive Quality —Miss Houdini , by Belong to Me , ran third in last year's Santa Maria behind Fighting Mad  and Hard Not to Love . Fifth in the Nov. 7 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) after a wide trip, Ce Ce returned to the winner's circle in her next start, an allowance optional claimer at Santa Anita April 17.

Victor Espinoza, who has ridden Ce Ce in nine of her 11 starts, will again be aboard from post 4.

McCarthy has indicated that he may opt instead for the $500,000 Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park with Ce Ce. Also at 1 1/16 miles, the Phipps will be part of the Belmont Stakes (G1) card June 5. Rombauer is already at Belmont Park, with McCarthy preparing him for the final leg of the Triple Crown.

Ce Ce did not defend her title in this year's Beholder. Swiss Skydiver , the 2020 Preakness, Santa Anita Oaks (G2), and Alabama Stakes (G1) winner and that season's champion 3-year-old filly, defeated As Time Goes By in the March 13 Beholder. The Beholder was As Time Goes By's first stakes attempt, and she returned in the April 24 Santa Margarita Stakes (G2), where, sans Swiss Skydiver, she scored by 9 1/4 lengths.

As Time Goes By, with Mike Smith up from post 5, is a 4-year-old daughter of American Pharoah  , the 2015 Triple Crown winner trained by Baffert. She is out of multiple grade 1 winner Take Charge Lady , the dam of champion Will Take Charge   and millionaire Take Charge Indy  . Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier, and Derrick Smith own As Time Goes By.

Trainer Carla Gaines will try to get a first career stakes victory for Miss Stormy D  in the Santa Maria. Owned by Keith Brackpool, Miss Stormy D is a 5-year-old daughter of Tapizar  , and she ran second in the Jan. 9 La Canada Stakes (G3). The front-running mare finished seventh in the Beholder and then finished second to Ce Ce in the April 17 allowance/optional claimer.

Juan Hernandez rides from post 3.

"She's doing very well and it's not an easy spot, but we're going to take a swing at it," said Gaines.

This Tea , second in the Santa Margarita, is slated to return in the Santa Maria under jockey Kent Desormeaux from post 2. George Papaprodromou trains the 4-year-old daughter of Curlin   for Kretz Racing. This Tea was fifth in the Beholder.

Last First Kiss , trained by Gary Mandella for Thomas Nichols, drew the rail and has Abel Cedillo as the jockey. A maiden winner last summer at Del Mar, the 4-year-old daughter of Congrats   will be making her graded stakes debut.

Entries: Santa Maria S. (G2)

Santa Anita Park, Saturday, May 22, 2021, Race 2

• Grade II
• 1 1/16m
• Dirt
• $200,000
• 3 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
• 1:35 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
98	1Last First Kiss (KY)	SCRATCHED	0	UNKNOWN	-
1	2This Tea (KY)	Kent J. Desormeaux	122	George Papaprodromou	20/1
2	3Miss Stormy D (KY)	Juan J. Hernandez	122	Carla Gaines	15/1
3	4Ce Ce (KY)	Victor Espinoza	122	Michael W. McCarthy	6/5
4	5As Time Goes By (KY)	Mike E. Smith	126	Bob Baffert	2/5