Dazzling New Group Two Winner for American Pharoah

Tara Madgwick - Thursday October 10

Exciting American Pharoah filly Sweet Melania moved to the lead on the backstretch and then charged away down the running to post a five and a half length victory in the $200,000 Group II JPMorgan Chase Jessamine Stakes for 2-year-olds fillies on turf at Keeneland on Wednesday.

American Pharoah

The victory, by the largest margin in the history of the race, earned the Todd Pletcher trained Sweet Melania a fees-paid berth into the Group I Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf to be contested at a mile on Nov. 1 at Santa Anita.

"The way she broke today I knew she was going to be there. In the first turn, I had Florent (Geroux on Jezebel's Kitten) trail me, and she (Sweet Melania) was a little keen," said winning rider Jose Ortiz.

"As soon as I completely got the lead, she relaxed well and I cruised to the quarter pole. When I asked her to go, she switched leads and gave me a great turn of foot."

A $600,000 Keeneland September purchase raced by Robert and Lawana Low, she has the overall record of two wins and three placings from just five starts.

Sweet Melania is the second winner from stakes-winner Sweet N Discreet, a sibling to Grade II winners Travelin Man and Discreet Dancer.

She is the fourth first crop stakes-winner for American Pharoah joining Maven, Four Wheel Drive and Another Miracle.

With four stakes-winners from just 48 runners, American Pharoah is already running at 8% stakes-winners to runners and will have yearlings at the Australasian sales in 2020.

He is currently at Coolmore Australia for a third season this spring at a fee of $66,000.

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