Forest Chatter, newly schooled, eyes fourth straight
ARCADIA, Calif. – Forest Chatter was minutes away from a start in an optional claimer at Santa Anita on April 17 when the gelding’s temper got the better of him. Forest Chatter flipped in the paddock and was scratched.
The past month has been full of lessons in paddock behavior, trainer Richard Mandella said.
“We had to go back to school with him,” Mandella said.
Sunday at Santa Anita, Forest Chatter is back in an optional claimer on the hillside turf course, where he will be favored to win his fourth consecutive race. Forest Chatter is part of a field of eight 3-year-olds and up.
The optional claimer is the leading race on a nine-race program which does not have a stakes. The $75,000 Mizdirection Stakes for fillies and mares on the hillside turf course did not draw a sufficient number of runners when entries were taken last Thursday, and has been postponed to this Thursday.
KEY CONTENDERS
Forest Chatter (Last 3 Beyers: 92-90-86)
◗ Forest Chatter’s win streak comprises three races at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course – a maiden race for California-breds on Jan. 8, an optional claimer for California-breds on Jan. 24, and an optional claimer against open company on March 15.
◗ Forest Chatter was 1-2 when he was scratched on April 17. Sunday’s race was the next opportunity for a start, Mandella said.
◗ Owned by breeders Pam and Marty Wygod, Forest Chatter has been versatile through his winning streak, racing on the front and from off the pace. He is likely to be off the pace under jockey Mike Smith in Sunday’s race, stalking probable pacesetter Ain’t No Other.
“He can go either way,” Mandella said. “He’s plenty fast and he can sit behind.”
Ain’t No Other (Last 3 Beyers: 87-69-76)
◗ Now 7, Ain’t No Other won a stakes earlier in his career, and in his only start this year won a $40,000 claimer on the hillside turf course on March 20.
◗ Ain’t No Other is a threat from the front under jockey Rafael Bejarano. The gelding is entered to be claimed for $62,500.
Indexical (Last 3 Beyers: 88-90-63)
◗ In two starts this year, Indexical has been second in optional claimers on the hillside turf course, including the April 17 race that Forest Chatter missed.
◗ Trained by Ben Cecil, Indexical races near the front and could easily finish in the first three again.