Consumer Spending uses late kick to take Matchmaker
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OCEANPORT, NJ — Consumer Spending closed powerfully under jockey Joel Rosario to capture Saturday’s Grade 3, $300,000 Matchmaker Stakes for fillies and mares traveling 1 1/8 miles at Monmouth Park.
A 4-year-old gray filly by More Than Ready, Consumer Spending saved ground in midpack as Canisy and Bipartisanship vied for the lead through moderate fractions of 24.41, 49.04, and 1:13.16 seconds over the firm turf.
The two pacesetters were tracked by trainer Shug McGaughey’s two entrants as Personal Best sat the pocket just inside of Surprisingly.
Surprisingly tipped off cover on the second turn to make a three-wide bid for the lead, but Rosario maneuvered Consumer Spending into the clear, and they set sail for the new leader.
Surprisingly tried very hard, but Consumer Spending had too much momentum, and she collared Surprisingly approaching the wire to prevail by a half-length in 1:48 (92 Beyer Speed Figure). It was another 2 3/4 lengths back to Gam’s Mission in third. Then came Bipartisanship, Personal Best, Canisy, and Tic Tic Tic Boom.
“It looked like there was not a lot of speed in the race,” Rosario said. “I was never worried because she was moving really good for me. I tried to save the ground going into both turns. I asked her a little bit on the last turn to get close to the horse on the lead, and she responded for me.”
Trainer Chad Brown told Daily Racing Form earlier this week that he felt Consumer Spending, the winner of last year’s Grade 2 Wonder Again at Belmont, was rounding into form for the Matchmaker, her third start of 2023. Brown-trained runners have now won the Matchmaker seven times, including the last four editions.
In her two prior races this year, Consumer Spending placed second in Belmont’s Grade 3 Beaugay May 6, then scored Monmouth’s Grade 3 Eatontown by three-quarters of a length over Surprisingly.
Bred in Kentucky by Forging Oaks Farm, Consumer Spending was purchased for $200,000 as a yearling. Owned by Klaravich Stables, Consumer Spending has won 6 of 11 starts for earnings of $737,000.
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