By Alan Carasso
Resolute Racing has finalized a deal to acquire 'TDN Rising Star' Sweet Rebecca (American Pharoah), the operation's owner John Stewart said on X late Wednesday evening. The filly will now be trained by Chad Brown.
Sweet Rebecca is bred by Greg Goodman's Mt. Brilliant Farm & Ranch, who purchased the filly's stakes-winning and Grade II-placed dam Sweet N Discreet (Discreet Cat) for $1.6 million in foal to Liam's Map at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton November Sale. Herself a $250,000 Keeneland September purchase by Cobble View Farm, Sweet Rebecca is a full-sister to Sweet Melania, a three-time winner at the graded level and third in the 2019 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' Turf.
Sent off as the 17-5 third choice as the only first-time starter in a field of nine in the Sunday finale at Gulfstream Park, Sweet Rebecca did not have the smoothest beginning and was taken up soon after the start, then became headstrong rounding the first turn. Well off the speed down the backstretch, the Brendan Walsh-trainee swung out about five wide for the drive and motored home impressively to score by a length, with a final quarter-mile in :22.34 according to DRF Formulator. Sweet Rebecca debuted in the colors of Mike Ryan, who raced her in partnership with Mt. Brilliant for the debut.
“I think American Pharoah is one of the most significant broodmare [sires] around,” Stewart told the TDN. “We have several of his fillies. After watching that race and looking at her pedigree, we think she will fit right in with the Resolute program. We can't wait to see what Chad Brown does with her.”
Resolute Bloodstock purchased five 2-year-olds at the just-concluded OBS March Sale, including an American Pharoah filly out of the well-related Grade III winner La Cloche (Ghostzapper) for $525,000.
Stewart burst onto the scene during last fall's breeding stock sales, acquiring two-time champion Goodnight Olive (Ghostzapper) for a sales-topping $6 million and Queen Caroline (Blame) and Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) for $3 million each at Fasig-Tipton November. Stewart also purchased Puca (Big Brown), the dam of GI Kentucky Derby winner Mage (Good Magic) and the latter's full-brother Dornoch, for $2.9 million at Keeneland November. Dornoch has since gone on to win the GII Remsen S. and GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth. S.
Debut 3YO American Pharoah (@coolmoreamerica) filly, SWEET REBECCA ($8.80), made a huge move after a terrible start to take @GulfstreamPark race 10. A masterful ride by @Tyler_Gaff for trainer Brendan Walsh! @larrycollmus turned $2 into $61.90 with a score in the Pick 4! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/E33liatyzA
— TVG (@TVG) March 10, 2024
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