Sweet Rebecca Newest ‘Rising Star’ For Pharoah

American Pharoah’s Sweet Rebecca (3f American Pharoah x Sweet N Discreet, by Discreet Cat) showed she was one to watch on Sunday when she overcame trouble in her debut to break her maiden and be named a Thoroughbred Daily News ‘Rising Star.’

Brendan Walsh debuted the filly going one mile on the Gulfstream Park turf, but she quickly ran into trouble soon after the break. Forced to check, it put her as the back marker in the field where Tyler Gaffalione had to take a tight hold on her.

Racing wide in the backstretch, Gaffalione gave into her demands to advance her position with half a mile left to run. She made it clear she was a threat for the win around the far turn and targeted the leader in the stretch. Racing into the final furlong, she motored up the outside to take over the lead and win by a length at the line.

A $250,000 yearling purchase, Sweet Rebecca races for Michael Ryan and breeder Mt Brilliant Farm.

This is the second successful runner for American Pharoah out of the stakes winning Sweet N Discreet. That mare also produced multiple graded stakes winner Sweet Melania and is the dam of four winners from four to race.

Sweet N Discreet is a full sister to Grade II winner and Grade I-placed Discreet Dancer and Grade II winner Travelin Man among others and hails from the family of A.P. Indy.

Sweet Rebecca is the sixth career TDN Rising Star for American Pharoah, who has also registered five worldwide stakes winners already in 2024.