I'm a Chatterbox dominates Obeah Stakes

I’m a Chatterbox stamped herself a strong contender for next month’s Grade 1 Delaware Handicap by overwhelming four rivals in the $100,000 Obeah Stakes for fillies and mares Saturday at Delaware Park.

Making the second start of her 4-year-old campaign following a runner-up finish in the Grade 3 Doubledogdare at Keeneland, heavy favorite I’m a Chatterbox ($2.60) moved past pacesetter Savings Account after the first six furlongs went in 1:12.86. Ridden for the first time by Gabriel Saez, I’m a Chatterbox opened up by six lengths after a mile in 1:39.27, and was ridden out to the wire, finishing 8 1/2 lengths in front of the Todd Pletcher-trained Genre. It was another three lengths back to Savings Account.

In winning for the sixth time in 13 starts, I’m a Chatterbox, a daughter of Munnings trained by Larry Jones for owners Carolyn and Fletcher Gray, completed 1 1/8 miles in 1:53.20. She has now earned $1,384,614.

I’m a Chatterbox, winner of the Grade 1 Cotillion last year, will be pointed to the $750,000 Delaware Handicap at 1 1/4 miles on July 16. She was a close second going that distance in last summer’s Grade 1 Alabama at Saratoga.

“We are sitting good right now,” Jones said. “With the Delaware Handicap being a Grade 1 and worth three-quarters of a million dollars, I think we will stay right here. We got a trip over the track, which was one advantage of staying here instead of going into the Phipps at New York. Plus, the Phipps is a mile and a sixteenth and this is a mile and an eighth.”