Littleprincessemma, dam of American Pharoah, named Broodmare of the Year

Littleprincessemma, the dam of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, has been honored as Kentucky’s Broodmare of the Year for 2015.

The award, presented annually since 1946, was announced at the annual Kentucky-bred champions program of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association and Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders. American Pharoah was among the horses honored at the luncheon, as the Kentucky-bred Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old male.

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Littleprincessemma, a 10-year-old daughter of Yankee Gentleman, outpolled fellow finalists Leslie's Lady, dam of three-time Eclipse Award winner Beholder and Grade 1 winner and successful young sire Into Mischief; Life Happened, dam of champion Tepin and graded stakes winner Vyjack; and Serena's Cat, dam of champion Honor Code and graded stakes winner Noble Tune.

Littleprincessemma, bred by Brereton C. Jones, was consigned by Woods Edge Farm at the 2007 Keeneland September yearling sale, where Ahmed Zayat purchased the filly for $250,000 and named her for his youngest daughter. Unplaced twice as a juvenile, she was retired to the breeding shed to support the Zayat stallions, and has produced two winners from as many starters.

American Pharoah, by Pioneerof the Nile, was her second foal. A multiple Grade 1-winning Eclipse Award champion as a juvenile, he won all but one of his starts last year, including the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes, Breeders’ Cup Classic, Haskell Invitational, and Arkansas Derby. He was honored as Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old male.

Littleprincessemma produced American Cleopatra, a full sister to American Pharoah, in 2014. Currently in training, she is the last foal owned by the Zayats out of the mare. The Zayats sold the mare, carrying another full sibling to American Pharoah, at the 2014 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall selected mixed sale, where she sold for $2.1 million to Summer Wind Farm, via the Taylor Made Sales consignment. Littleprincessemma produced Irish Pharaoh in the spring of 2015, and Chasing Yesterday, a Tapit filly, in February.