Blueblood Filly Willow Latest American Pharoah Winner

Willow (2f American Pharoah x Peeping Fawn, by Danehill) became the latest well-bred winner for her Triple Crown winning sire on Friday with an easy victory at Leopardstown.

Racing over a mile on the turf, Willow settled just behind the leaders where she galloped comfortably closest to the rail for much of the race. In the stretch the filly was pulled to the outside and made easy work of the race from there.

The big filly had most of the field beat by open lengths with only one horse within 5¼ lengths of her.

“She’s genuine and is probably getting stronger into her big frame,” jockey Seamie Heffernan told Irishracing.com. “She’s a filly I like a lot and she has a very fluent action. She’s a good mover.”

A homebred for Coolmore trained by Aidan O’Brien, Willow is out of Champion racemare Peeping Fawn. European Champion 3-Year-old Filly, Peeping Fawn is the dam of stakes winner and Group I-placed September, Group 2-placed Sir John Hawkins and is granddam to stakes winner Alzire and stakes-placed Palmyre.

The dam of five winners from seven to race, Peeping Fawn is a half-sister to Group I winner Thewayyouare out of Group 1-palaced Maryinsky, who is a daughter of Grade I Kentucky Oaks winner Blush With Pride. A bluehen mare, Blush With Pride’s daughters include 2007 Broodmare of the Year Better Than Honour and multiple stakes winner and stakes producer Smolensk.

Champion Freshman Sire and leading Second-Crop Sire, American Pharoah’s crop has already produced 12 winners, led by two Group-placed runners and Grade I fourth American Monarch.