NEW ORLEANS – Trainer Brad Cox didn’t hesitate for an instant when asked if Chocolate Ride would improve in his second start of the Fair Grounds season. “Yes,” Cox said. “We’re very confident he’s ready to move forward.” But will Chocolate Ride even get the chance? One of the best grass horses at Fair Grounds the last two seasons, Chocolate Ride is one of nine entrants in the Grade 3, $125,000 Col. E.R. Bradley Handicap on Saturday, but a rainy forecast spells trouble for Chocolate Ride. If things get wet enough, the Bradley could even be switched to dirt, and even if it rains and the race stays on grass, Chocolate Ride is unlikely to get the firm going he prefers. Even on turf, there will be at least one scratch from the Bradley since Glorious Empire is stabled in one of the Fair Grounds barns under quarantine because of the equine herpesvirus outbreak here. Rocket Time is cross-entered in the Louisiana Stakes and is in the Bradley looking for a rain-off. On dirt, though, a second Cox starter, Western Reserve, should have an excellent chance. Western Reserve won the Buddy Diliberto Stakes here last month on turf while making his first start since he was purchased by Marc Detampel and turned over to Cox, scoring a game win by a nose. The gelding has impressed Cox with his dirt works and was third at Saratoga in a third-level allowance last summer in a seven-furlong race over the main track. Though Western Reserve ran one of his better races last month, Cox has seen no signs that Western Reserve is backing up now. “His works have been very strong. He certainly hasn’t regressed in the mornings,” Cox said. Greengrassofyoming finished a close fourth in the Arlington Million in August before going over the top last fall and losing his form. He was back on his game, losing by a nose in the Diliberto, but might need a longer race to be most effective. Granny’s Kitten was third in the Diliberto, but his run appeared to have peaked several strides before the wire. Chocolate Ride won the Grade 2 Mervin Muniz two Fair Grounds seasons ago, and while not quite as sharp last winter, he still won the Bradley and the Fair Grounds Handicap before finishing fourth in the Muniz. The Diliberto was Chocolate Ride’s first race in more than seven months, and he looked very much like a horse who needed a start. “He likes to have the lead, and I think he can get it this time,” Cox said. “He definitely needed the race. If he moves forward, he’ll be tough to beat.” I’m Chatterbox on fence I’m a Chatterbox is the marquee name in the $75,000 Marie Krantz Stakes. The race would mark I’m a Chatterbox’s turf debut if it is not rained onto the main track, and on dirt, I’m a Chatterbox would look like an absolute standout. But there remains a chance that I’m a Chatterbox won’t run at all. The 5-year-old mare had been training toward the $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic on Jan. 28 at Sam Houston, but that race appeared to be out of reach after Fair Grounds was placed under quarantine because of the equine herpesvirus outbreak. But the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, barring any further EHV-1 cases, will lift the quarantine Saturday, and that has reopened the possibility of a trip to Houston. Trainer Larry Jones said Thursday that Texas racing officials were meeting to decide whether Fair Grounds-based horses would be permitted onto the Sam Houston grounds if they are allowed to leave Fair Grounds. Jones has long been curious to see how I’m a Chatterbox would perform on turf, a surface over which she has never so much as breezed, but the Krantz is a tough spot. Cash Control is on a two-race winning streak and probably is the one to beat on turf, though she was home by just a nose over Kitten’s Roar last month in the Blushing K. D. And perhaps even more appealing at higher odds is Cambodia, who makes her stakes debut after an eye-catching allowance win over the Fair Grounds course Dec. 1.