Misspell Another Smart Winner for Pharoah
Misspell (2f American Pharoah x Fact File, by Dixie Union) became the newest juvenile winner for her Triple Crown winning sire on Saturday with a win as the favorite in a Churchill Downs Maiden Special Weight.
Racing over 1 1/16 miles on turf for Chad Brown and owner Peter Brant, Misspell broke from the widest gate and quickly worked her way to just two paths off the rail a few lengths behind the leader.
Showing complete professionalism when pulled out from behind horses in the stretch by Tyler Gaffalione, the well-bred filly showed an outstanding turn of foot to take the lead and win by three quarters of a length.
Bred by Sahara Group Holdings LTD & Eurowest Bloodstock Services and sold for $325,000 at the Keeneland September Sale last year, Misspell is a regally-bred daughter of Fact File. That mare is a half-sister to Grade II winner Honorable Duty and a granddaughter of Grade I winner and bluehen broodmare Toussaud.
Toussaud herself is the dam of American Pharaoh’s grandsire Empire Maker, giving Misspell a 3 x 4 cross to the mare. In all, Toussaud produced four Grade I winners with the mare also the granddam of Grade I winner and sire First Defence.
Fact File continued the Triple Crown trend in 2020 when producing a Justify filly.
Misspell is the 62nd winner for her Champion Freshman Sire, whose 21 stakes horses and 10 stakes winners lead all second crop sires this year.