Gulfstream: After bad start, Cairo Consort wins Sweetest Chant

Cairo Consort, whose flat-footed start spotted her rivals several lengths at the break, came with a dramatic late run to catch long shot stablemate Alpha Bella approaching the wire and win Saturday’s Grade 3, $175,000 Sweetest Chant at Gulfstream Park.

With a time of 1:40.95 for the 1 1/16 miles, Cairo Consort ($6.40) gave Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher his fourth win of the day and second in a stakes, following Major Dude in the $175,000 Kitten’s Joy (G3). He also won with 3-year-olds King’s Fortune and Tapit Trice.

It was the third win of the day for jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., who tied a track record with seven winners on a single card Friday. Ortiz also was aboard King’s Fortune and Major Dude.

Winner of the one-mile Ginger Brew Jan. 7 at Gulfstream in the first start for her new connections, Cairo Consort had her head turned to the right when the starting gates opened and she hesitated to come out, then settled in behind her eight rivals as Sweetlou'sgotraces and Malleymoo raced through splits of 22.75, 47.11 and 1:11.66.

Alpha Bella, also trained by Pletcher and ridden by Luiz Saez, saved ground early before being swung outside on the turn to take on the leaders. Alpha Bella found herself in front passing the eighth pole but Cairo Consort was in full flight down the center of the stretch and rolled past to a narrow victory.

Heavenly Sunday was third, followed by Metaphysical, Bulsara, Malleymoo, Stephanie’s Charm, Padma and Sweetlou’sgotaces.

Cairo Consort won the Catch a Glimpse in her stakes debut and was second in the Natalma (G1) last summer, both on the Woodbine turf, before finishing third at odds of 19-1 in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Following that effort, she fetched $875,000 at Fasig-Tipton’s November mixed sale and was sent to Pletcher.