Consumer Credit extends Brown's dominance in Sweetest Chant

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Consumer Credit made an impressive late burst Saturday to come through as a popular choice in the Grade 3, $100,000 Sweetest Chant Stakes, giving trainer Chad Brown victory in the Gulfstream Park turf fixture for the fourth straight year.

Under Edgard Zayas, Consumer Credit had a good ground-saving trip throughout the one-mile journey before angling out for the drive. For a brief moment, it appeared that front-runners Miss Temple City and Quality Rocks were edging away from her, but Consumer Credit suddenly surged after two smacks from the Zayas whip.

“I was just trying to get a clean run down the lane,” said Zayas. “It all worked out in the end. I had a ton of horse under the wire.”

Owned by Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence, Consumer Credit returned $5.60 as the favorite in a field of 10 3-year-old fillies after finishing in 1:35.80 over a firm course. A dark bay daughter of More Than Ready, Consumer Credit now has won three straight races after opening her career with two defeats.

Quality Rocks held second, a length behind the winner and a head before Miss Temple City. Cardinal Cove was fourth, another neck back.

Brown, an Eclipse Award finalist for the first time in 2014, won the Sweetest Chant with Dayatthespa in 2012, in 2013 with Premier Steps, and last year with Ready to Act. Brown said the next local race in the 3-year-old filly division, the $150,000 Herecomesthebride on Feb. 28, would be a logical next start.

The $2 exacta (7-4) paid $17.60, the $1 trifecta (7-4-3) returned $22.40, and the 10-cent superfecta (7-4-3-6) was worth $31.69.