I'm a Chatterbox stands out in Houston Ladies Classic

Trainer Larry Jones has sent out the winners of two runnings of the Houston Ladies Classic since the stakes was introduced in 2013, but neither Joyful Victory nor Cassatt brought the credentials into the race that I’m a Chatterbox will be towing Sunday.

Her record is outstanding.

I’m a Chatterbox is a three-time Grade 1 winner coming out of the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, and her $2.2 million in earnings pop off the page. As such, she figures to be an odds-on favorite in this year’s renewal of the Grade 3, $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic. The 1 1/16-mile fixture for fillies and mares has drawn a field of seven, including Family Tree, a well-regarded sort coming off a romping win in the $300,000 Zia Park Oaks; Danzatrice, who put up a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 93 last out when dominating the Tiffany Lass at Fair Grounds; and Unbridled Mo, the winner of the $200,000 Remington Park Oaks.

The Houston Ladies Classic is the richest offering for Thoroughbreds in Texas. It will anchor a card of five stakes on the meet’s lone Sunday card. There is a special first post of noon Central. The program includes the Grade 3, $250,000 Connally Turf Cup.

Houston Ladies Classic,Race 9

KEY CONTENDERS

I’m a Chatterbox, by Munnings

Last 3 Beyers: 94-100-100

◗ I’m a Chatterbox picked up two of her Grade 1 wins last year in the Delaware Handicap in July and the Spinster in October. She closed out the season with a fifth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Nov. 4 at Santa Anita. I’m a Chatterbox, at 16-1 odds, was prominent until a battle broke out between champions Beholder and Songbird.

“There were horses that ran faster,” Jones said. “We were in a winning position, right between Songbird and Beholder, and the problem was we couldn’t stay there. To get outrun by those two is not a bad thing. Stellar Wind and Forever Unbridled, they’re pretty good horses, too. It was a very good bunch of horses in there. She tried.”

◗ I’m a Chatterbox will break from post 4 under Florent Geroux.

“This filly has won on the lead and won coming from dead last,” Jones said. “We’ll see what happens when they break. We’ll fall out of there and see what happens.”

◗ Jones trains I’m a Chatterbox for her breeders, Fletcher and Carolyn Gray.

Family Tree, by Smart Strike

Last 3 Beyers: 95-86-83

◗ She racked up three stakes wins last year, including the Grade 2 Indiana Oaks and the Grade 3 Iowa Oaks. Her season also included a third-place finish to Songbird in the Alabama.

◗ Family Tree, who has tactical speed, will break from post 3 under Julien Leparoux. Wayne Catalano trains for Gary and Mary West.