Thewayiam scores stakes double in Sweetest Chant

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Thewayiam maintained her winning ways at Gulfstream Park after getting the jump on Salsa Bella and holding sway Saturday in the 22nd running of the Grade 3, $100,000 Sweetest Chant Stakes.

Thewayiam finished three-quarters of a length ahead of Salsa Bella in the one-mile turf race for 3-year-old fillies, leading a one-two exacta for the riding Ortiz brothers while snapping an uncanny win streak for the Chad Brown stable. Brown had won the last six runnings of the Sweetest Chant, dating to 2012, and was represented in this renewal by the uncoupled pair of Salsa Bella and the favored Data Dependent.

Thewayiam got a terrific ride from Jose Ortiz, saving ground on both turns before finding a seam leaving the quarter pole and quickly darting past several front-runners to open an advantage that a fast-closing Salsa Belle, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., was unable to overcome.

Thewayiam, a French-bred by Thewayyouare, returned $11.40 after finishing in 1:36.90 over firm turf and earning an 82 Beyer Speed Figure.

She was coming off a victory in the ungraded Ginger Brew here four weeks beforehand and now looms a logical candidate in the next race in the local division, the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride on the March 3 Fountain of Youth card.

“I was able to do what I did the last time, sit on the rail,” said Jose Ortiz. “I sit there for as long as I could, and when I ask her, she had a great kick.”

“She’s so nimble and easy to maneuver,” said Graham Motion, who trains Thewayiam for a four-way partnership that includes Great Point Stables LLC. “I think Jose getting the jump on his brother helped.”

Salsa Bella was making just her second career start after easily winning a maiden race in her native France in September. Sent away at 5-1, she kicked hard down the lane after lagging well back through most of the running to finish 1 3/4 lengths before third-place Andina Del Sur in the field of nine. Conversely, Data Dependent had no apparent mishap when settling for seventh at 8-5.

The $2 exacta (1-5) paid $59.40, the $1 trifecta (1-5-2) returned $141.20, and the 10-cent superfecta (1-5-2-6) was worth $173.33.