Sweet Melania Earns Another Stakes Win in G3 Suwannee River
American Pharoah’s multiple graded stakes winner Sweet Melania (4f American Pharoah x Sweet N Discreet, by Discreet Cat) was back in the winner’s circle on Saturday with a victory in the Grade III Suwannee River Stakes.
The one mile turf race saw Sweet Melania let Grade III winner Shifty She gallop away on the lead as she raced comfortably in second under John Velazquez three lengths behind. As they entered the final three furlongs, Sweet Melania was ready to show her best and moved up to challenge the pacesetter.
Shifty She wasn’t going to give up easily but Sweet Melania didn’t take much convincing to go by with Velazquez having plenty left. His mount had half a length at the line and it was clear she could have won by more if seriously asked.
Trained by Todd Pletcher for Robert and Lawana Low, Sweet Melania was scoring her third graded stakes victory with the win. In all, Sweet Melania has finished in the top three in 12 of 15 starts with seven of those top three finishes coming in stakes – including a third in the 2019 Grade I Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.
“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.”
Purchased for $600,000 from Gainesway by West Bloodstock on behalf of the Lows as a yearling, Sweet Melania was bred by St. Elias Stables out of stakes winning Sweet N Discreet.
That mare is a half-sister to Grade II winners Travelin Man and a full to Grade II winner Discreet Dancer. Sweet Melania’s fourth dam is successful broodmare Lassie’s Lady, who is also the granddam of champions Duke of Marmalade and Ruler of the World among others.
Sweet Melania has a weanling full sister among her dam’s upcoming runners.
Triple Crown winner American Pharoah continues to prove to be an elite third crop sire, leading all third crop sires with 22 stakes winners, 11 graded stakes winners, and 11 Grade I performers.