I'm a Chatterbox (Munnings) delivered a sparkling performance in Sunday's GI Juddmonte Spinster S. at Keeneland, notching the third Grade I victory of her career and earning a “Win and You're In” berth in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff Nov. 4 at Santa Anita. Trained by Larry Jones for Grayson Farm, the homebred tracked pacesetter Paid Up Subscriber (Candy Ride {Arg}) in the early stages and easily dispatched that one in the lane en-route to an authoritative score.
I'm a Chatterbox annexed the GI Cotillion S. and placed in three other Grade I events as a sophomore, and bounced back from a runner-up finish in her 4-year-old debut in Keeneland's GIII Doubledogdare S. with a pair of scores at Delaware Park, including the July 16 GI Delaware H. going 10 furlongs. She recently set the pace and was outfinished when fourth in a deep renewal of the GI Personal Ensign S. at Saratoga Aug. 27.
Tabbed as the heavy favorite in this compact field of five, I'm a Chatterbox broke alertly and managed to avoid trouble early as Miss Pink Diva (Dunkirk) suffered a fatal injury on the first turn. The chestnut rated kindly off Paid Up Subscriber as that one carved out fractions of :23.98 and :48.30 and turned up the heat under minimal encouragement on the far turn.
I'm a Chatterbox took control at the head of the lane and easily drew clear to a seven-length romp. Paid Up Subscriber held on for second in a strung-out field, five lengths ahead of Genre (Bernardini).
“She ran really big,” said Jones. “When it came time to run, she really exploded down the lane very nice. It seems like her numbers are getting better after every race, so I think she's at the peak right now. We hopefully have room for improvement.”
Jockey Florent Geroux completed a sweep of Keeneland's two graded stakes Sunday, having captured the GIII Dixiana Bourbon S. one race prior to the Spinster. The native of France said that I'm a Chatterbox's tactical speed was the key to her success.
“She broke very sharply today, which sometimes can be an issue with her,” Geroux said. “Sometimes she can break a little step slow or flat-footed. Today she broke very sharp, which allowed us to take a great position, where I wanted to be. She was nice and relaxed. When I asked her to go down the lane, she gave me a very nice kick. I was like, 'Wow. They're going to have to go fast to catch me.'”
With her win, I'm a Chatterbox also eclipsed the $2-million mark in earnings. As for a prospective tilt in a loaded Breeders' Cup Distaff field that is expected to include the likes of champions Songbird (Medaglia d'Oro), Stellar Wind (Curlin) and Beholder (Henny Hughes), Jones said that he is welcoming the challenge for his filly.
“I think this may be the deepest Distaff that I have seen in a long time,” the conditioner remarked. “There are seven really good horses. I'm putting her right there with them.”
Pedigree Notes:
I'm a Chatterbox has a juvenile half-brother named Zinger (The Factor) who is set to make his career debut for these same connections in Keeneland's fourth race Thursday. Chit Chatter is also responsible for a yearling filly by Flat Out and was most recently bred back to American Pharoah.
Sunday, Keeneland
JUDDMONTE SPINSTER S.-GI, $500,000, KEE, 10-9, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/8m, 1:49.98, ft.
1–I'M A CHATTERBOX, 124, f, 4, by Munnings">Munnings
1st Dam: Chit Chatter (MSP, $120,945), by Lost Soldier
2nd Dam: Bedroom Chatter, by Cure the Blues
3rd Dam: Bedroom Window, by Linkage
($30,000 RNA Ylg '13 KEESEP). O-Grayson Farm; B-Fletcher &
Carolyn Gray (KY); T-J. Larry Jones; J-Florent Geroux. $325,000.
Lifetime Record: 16-8-3-2, $2,209,614.[bullet ad=”ricehorse-graduate”] Werk Nick Rating: B.
Click for eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Paid Up Subscriber, 124, f, 4, Candy Ride (Arg)–Shriek, by
Street Cry (Ire). ($135,000 Ylg '13 KEESEP). O-Klaravich Stables,
Inc. & William Lawrence; B-Bruce & Laurie Berenson (KY);
T-Albert M. Stall, Jr. $100,000.[bullet ad=”brookdale-paidupsubscriber”][bullet ad=”blackburn-sales-double”][bullet ad=”nick-de-meric-de-meric-stables-purchase-and-graduate”]3–Genre, 124, f, 4, Bernardini–French Park, by Ecton Park.
($200,000 Ylg '13 KEESEP). O-Cheyenne Stables LLC; B-William
E. Graves & Gainesway Thoroughbreds Ltd. (KY); T-Todd A.
Pletcher. $50,000.[bullet ad=”gainesway-consigned-by”][bullet ad=”bradshaw-randy-shell”]Margins: 7, 5, 3 3/4. Odds: 0.40, 3.30, 3.90.
Also Ran: Engaginglee, Miss Pink Diva.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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