Consultant approves of the turf

David and JoAnn Hayden’s Dark Hollow Farm homebred Consultant kept telling everyone he loved the turf. And the 3-year-old son of Malibu Moon backed that up in his first start of the year when he galloped home a nine-length winner at Laurel Park on April 30.

Tugging hard as he stalked the pace down the backstretch, Consultant pulled himself to the front heading into the far turn and flew home, widening his margin with every stride. Jockey Victor Carrasco had a hard time pulling up the powerful chestnut gelding after the finish of the one-mile maiden race.