I’m a Chatterbox takes on speedy field in Rachel Alexandra
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
NEW ORLEANS – I’m a Chatterbox came out of nowhere last month in the Silverbulletday Stakes, leading from start to finish in a blowout victory.
On Saturday in the Grade 3, $175,000 Rachel Alexandra Stakes, I’m a Chatterbox comes out of the No. 10 hole, and this time, she will not be sneaking up on anyone.
In the Silverbulletday, I’m a Chatterbox broke from the fence, skimmed the rail, and won by eight lengths, improving sharply in her first start for trainer Larry Jones while winning her first stakes. The scenario this time is more challenging. There’s more speed in this race and a better group of horses, too.
The Rachel Alexandra, contested over 1 1/16 miles, goes as race 10 of 13 on Saturday’s card and drew 10 entrants. Jones has two more fillies, the improving Lovely Maria and the longshot White Clover, while Dallas Stewart trains the distant Silverbulletday runner-up, Forever Unbridled, and the recent maiden winner Pleasant Tales.
There is enough depth to the race that West Coast Belle, the winner of the Grade 2 Golden Rod last fall and fourth in the Silverbulletday, is 6-1 on the morning line.
The race should unfold at a swift tempo. Shook Up will leave post 1 running, the New York-bred Florida shipper Freudie Anne has raced on the lead in her last two starts, Harbour Island stretches out from sprints in which she set the pace, and I’m a Chatterbox, from post 10, has to be sent for position into the first turn.
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Key contenders
Lovely Maria (Last 3 Beyers: 88-66-81)
* Stables can tout horses to plump their value, and stables can be wrong about horses, but the Jones barn seems legitimately high on Lovely Maria.
* Cindy Jones, Larry’s wife and assistant, chimed in unbidden Thursday: “Maria, she’s the one that’s really coming around.”
* Led when she beat Shook Up in a Jan. 26 allowance because there was no pace. Jones expects a stalking trip Saturday, which could be ideal.
* Out of a Thunder Gulch mare, Lovely Maria struck Jones as a two-turn horse, but he got three sprint races into her for seasoning.
I’m a Chatterbox (Last 3 Beyers: 94-73-68)
* Somewhat slight filly needed some time to get over her peak performance last month but bounced back into form, and jockey Florent Geroux told Jones that her most recent workout was even stronger than her pre-Silverbulletday breezes.
* The draw could be a problem. Either I’m A Chatterbox blazes to the lead and sets a hot pace, or she risks getting hung wide on the first turn.
Shook Up (Last 3 Beyers: 84-93-75)
* Looked brilliant in beating overmatched maidens two starts ago, showing an electric turn of foot, but found herself in a much different race Jan. 26, when she was bottled up behind horses and on the rail. The pace was slow, and Shook Up was unhappy, getting rank and lugging in during the stretch run.
* Trainer Steve Asmussen has changed bits to try to correct the issue.
* Doesn’t need the lead, and the likely faster pace Saturday should help her settle.
Angela Renee (Last 3 Beyers: 76-59-87)
* The only Grade 1 winner in the race ended 2014 on a sour note, but trainer Todd Pletcher said her recent works have been the strongest of her career.