The $150.000 Sweetest Chant Stakes takes center stage at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, January 31, 2026, presenting a 1 1/16-mile test on the turf course for three-year-old fillies. As one of the important developmental stakes events on the winter calendar, this race has a storied history dating back to 2009. Among connections with previous success, Mb Stables has captured three editions (2012, 2017, 2021), while TwinTowersRacing won in 2025 and has two entrants in this year’s race. John Velazquez has won this race four times (2013, 2016, 2017, 2020). The race has attracted a competitive field of ten talented three-year-old fillies, each seeking to add their names to this prestigious list of winners and establish themselves as legitimate contenders in the three-year-old filly turf division.

Horse-by-Horse Analysis

Liuna represents Williams9 with Jose Torres (15/1 odds) in the irons. This bay three-year-old filly by Whos Afraid has won one of eight career starts while earning $60.680, posting her best speed figure of 93. Her most recent outing on December 27 at Fair Grounds saw her finish fifth in allowance company at 1 1/16 miles on turf, carrying 117 pounds. Prior to that on November 27, she finished fifth in the $100.000 Wait A While Stakes at Gulfstream Park at 7 1/2 furlongs on turf. Earlier on November 1, she finished second by one length at Aqueduct at one mile on turf in allowance company, and on September 30, she won her maiden at Parx Racing at one mile on turf by one length. Her recent workouts show excellent preparation, including a bullet seven-furlong turf work in 1:22.3 at Aqueduct on January 27. While she’s shown quality form with her maiden victory and allowance placing, her modest recent efforts raise questions about whether she can compete with proven stakes winners in this competitive field.

Worldofconfussion represents Big Jd Racing with Angel Gallardo (12/1 odds) guiding this bay three-year-old filly by Bold Ruler. With two wins and two seconds from seven career starts and earnings of $68.390, she enters off a victory on December 31 at Tampa Bay Downs at 1 1/16 miles on turf by three lengths in optional claiming company, carrying 118 pounds. Prior to that on November 29, she finished sixth at Tampa Bay Downs at five furlongs on turf in allowance company. Earlier on October 21, she finished second at Fairmont Park at 1 1/16 miles on turf in optional claiming company, and she won a New York-bred maiden special weight at Saratoga on turf. Her recent workouts show solid preparation, including a six-furlong turf work in 1:10.2 at Gulfstream Park on January 20. While she’s shown quality form with her recent victory at this exact distance, her lack of stakes experience and modest speed figures suggest she faces a challenge against proven stakes performers.

Zen Conquest represents Mb Stables with Brian Curtis (10/1 odds) aboard this bay three-year-old filly by Boardwalk Empire. With one win from three career starts and earnings of $48.000, she enters off a fifth-place finish on January 3 in the $150.000 Gin Talking Stakes at Gulfstream Park at one mile on turf, carrying 121 pounds. Prior to that on November 28, she won a California-bred maiden special weight at Del Mar at one mile on turf by four lengths. Her recent workouts show excellent preparation, including a bullet seven-furlong turf work in 1:22.2 at Aqueduct on January 11. While she’s shown promise with her impressive maiden victory, her limited experience with just three career starts and disappointing Gin Talking Stakes effort raise questions about whether she’s ready for this assignment.

State Title represents Team 7 Illusions with Jose Ruiz (5/2 odds) riding this bay three-year-old filly by Dream Sequence. With one win, two seconds, and one third from five career starts and earnings of $482.600, she brings exceptional credentials to this assignment. Her most recent outing on October 31 at Del Mar saw her finish second by 1/2 lengths in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at one mile on turf, carrying 122 pounds. Prior to that on October 3, she finished seventh in the Grade 1 Alcibiades Stakes at Keeneland on dirt at 1 1/16 miles. Earlier on August 31, she finished second by a head in the $1000.000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies Stakes on turf at one mile, and on July 5, she finished third in the Grade 3 Sanford Stakes at Saratoga on dirt. She won her maiden at Churchill Downs on dirt. Her recent workouts show excellent preparation, including a bullet one-mile turf work in 1:35.1 at Gulfstream Park on January 16. Her proven class at the highest level with her Breeders’ Cup runner-up finish and consistent form make her a serious threat, though the stretch-out to 1 1/16 miles raises minor questions.

Perception Plus represents Spb Racing with Drayden Centeno (6/1 odds) guiding this gray three-year-old filly by Perception. With three wins, one second, and two thirds from eight career starts and earnings of $91.010, she enters off a victory on December 27 at Fair Grounds at 1 1/16 miles on turf by 3/4 lengths in allowance company, carrying 117 pounds. Prior to that on November 28, she won a Pennsylvania-bred allowance race at Parx Racing at 7 1/2 furlongs on turf by a nose. Earlier on October 29, she finished third at Parx Racing at five furlongs on turf in allowance company, and on September 22, she finished third at Parx Racing at 1 1/16 miles on turf in allowance company. She also won a Pennsylvania-bred maiden special weight. Her recent workouts show excellent preparation, including a six-furlong turf work in 1:10.3 at Gulfstream Park on January 26. Her proven effectiveness at this exact distance with her recent Fair Grounds victory and consistent form make her a legitimate threat, though her lack of stakes experience raises questions about the step up in class.

Grand Concourse represents TwinTowersRacing with Shaun Bridgmohan (7/1 odds) aboard this chestnut three-year-old filly by Bronx Bomber. With one win and three thirds from seven career starts and earnings of $311.810, she brings strong credentials to this assignment. Her most recent outing on October 31 at Del Mar saw her finish seventh in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at one mile on turf, carrying 122 pounds. Prior to that on October 3, she finished third in the Grade 2 Jessamine Stakes at Keeneland at 1 1/16 miles on turf. Earlier on September 13, she finished fourth in the Grade 1 Natalma Stakes at Woodbine at one mile on turf, and on August 31, she finished third in the $1000.000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies Stakes on turf. She won her maiden at Saratoga. Her recent workouts show limited preparation, with her most recent recorded work being a three-furlong turf breeze in 34.3 seconds at Santa Anita on December 22. While she’s shown quality form with multiple graded stakes placings, her limited recent workouts and disappointing Breeders’ Cup effort raise questions about her current condition.

Higgs P represents Robeth with Joel Rosario (4/1 odds) guiding this bay three-year-old filly by Higgs Boson. With two wins from two career starts and earnings of $64.800, she enters off a victory on November 27 in the $100.000 Wait A While Stakes at Gulfstream Park at 7 1/2 furlongs on turf by a nose, carrying 119 pounds and earning a 123-pound weight penalty for this race. She was sold for $100.000 in early October. Prior to that she won her maiden at Belterra Park at one mile on turf by five lengths. Her recent workouts show solid preparation, including a six-furlong turf work in 1:10.2 at Gulfstream Park on January 5. Her undefeated record with two victories from two starts, including her Wait A While Stakes triumph, and impressive speed figures make her a serious threat, though the stretch-out to 1 1/16 miles and the three-pound weight penalty raise minor concerns.

Queen Of Persia represents Alabarda Stable with Irad Ortiz Jr. (20/1 odds) riding this bay three-year-old filly by Governor. With two wins and one second from four career starts and earnings of $13.890, she enters off a victory on December 6 at Belterra Park at one mile on turf by one length in allowance company, carrying 115 pounds. Prior to that on September 29, she finished second by a nose at Fairmont Park at five furlongs on turf in optional claiming company. She also won her maiden at Fairmount Park on dirt. Her recent workouts show excellent preparation, including a bullet six-furlong turf work in 1:10.1 at Gulfstream Park on January 24. While she’s shown quality form with consecutive victories, her modest earnings and limited stakes experience suggest she faces a significant challenge against proven graded stakes runners.

Haggis Duchess represents The Sidley Stud with Patrick Husbands (30/1 odds) guiding this gray three-year-old filly by Ginger Haggis. With one win and one second from eight career starts and earnings of $46.750, she enters off a third-place finish on December 30 in the $75.000 Parx Futurity Filly at Parx Racing at seven furlongs on dirt, carrying 121 pounds. Prior to that on November 22, she finished fourth in the Shady Well Stakes at Woodbine. All of her career starts have been on dirt surfaces. Her recent workouts show solid preparation, including a one-mile turf work in 1:35.3 at Parx Racing on January 15. While she’s shown some ability on dirt, her complete lack of turf experience presents a major obstacle as she makes her first start on grass against proven turf performers.

I Am The Storm represents TwinTowersRacing with Manny Sanchez (9/1 odds) completing the field for this black three-year-old filly by Expert Eye. With three wins and one second from seven career starts and earnings of $100.110, she enters off a sixth-place finish on January 3 in the $150.000 Gin Talking Stakes at Gulfstream Park at one mile on turf, carrying 121 pounds. Prior to that on October 31, she won at Del Mar at 1 1/16 miles on turf by one length in optional claiming company, carrying 118 pounds. Earlier on September 22, she won at Parx Racing at 1 1/16 miles on turf by 1 1/4 lengths in allowance company, and she won her maiden at Parx Racing on dirt. Her recent workouts show excellent preparation, including a bullet seven-furlong turf work in 1:22.2 at Aqueduct on January 13. Her proven effectiveness at this exact distance with victories at 1 1/16 miles on turf and consistent form make her a legitimate threat, though her disappointing Gin Talking Stakes effort raises questions about her current condition.

Pace Scenario and Prediction

The pace structure should develop with Liuna, Perception Plus, and Worldofconfussion likely battling for the early lead, all having demonstrated consistent gate speed and the ability to set or press the pace on turf. State Title, Higgs P, and Queen Of Persia have shown tactical speed to stalk just behind the leaders, while I Am The Storm, Zen Conquest, Grand Concourse, and Haggis Duchess will likely settle in mid-pack or come from off the pace before attempting their late rallies.

The projected winner is Higgs P, which brings the best combination of proven stakes-winning form, undefeated record, and impressive speed figures to this assignment. Her victory in the Wait A While Stakes at Gulfstream Park demonstrated her ability to handle quality competition at this venue, and while the stretch-out from 7 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/16 miles presents a challenge, her maiden victory came at one mile, confirming her effectiveness at route distances. With Rosario able to position her perfectly in stalking position before unleashing her late kick, Higgs P should have every opportunity to maintain her undefeated record despite carrying 123 pounds. State Title appears the most dangerous threat with her Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf runner-up finish and proven class at the highest level. Perception Plus could factor with her recent victory at this exact distance and consistent form, while I Am The Storm, Grand Concourse, and Worldofconfussion round out the contenders with varying degrees of probability in this competitive three-year-old filly turf stakes event.

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded