Already a two time Graded winner, quality Amercain Pharoah (USA) mare Sweet Melania added another feature win to her resume when taking out the $100,000 Group III Suwannee River Stakes at Gulfstream on the weekend.
Trained by Todd Pletcher for Robert and Lawana Low, Sweet Melania scored a half length win in the one mile contest on turf taking her overall record to four wins and eight placings from 15 starts with prizemoney topping $570,000.
“She was super sharp coming into it,” Pletcher said.
“I loved the way she was training and she got a beautiful ride from Johnny. It was a good setup, and I thought she ran a good race. I felt like she had been rounding back into form and had some good performances and just didn’t quite get there. She did seem super sharp, and we were hoping for an improved performance.”
Bred by St. Elias Stables, Sweet Melania was a $600,000 Keeneland September purchase and is the best of two winners from stakes-winner Sweet N Discreet, a sibling to Grade II winners Discreet Dancer and Travelin Man.
The filly’s extended family also boasts Group I Epsom Derby winner Ruler of the World and five-time Group I winner Duke of Marmalade.
Sweet Melania is the 16th stakes-winner for American Pharoah in 2021 with those stakes-winners coming in five different countries including Australia where he is the sire of Group III winner Head of State.
Triple Crown hero American Pharoah has 12 entries for Magic Millions and the same for Inglis Classic.
