I'm a Chatterbox wins first stakes in Silverbulletday
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NEW ORLEANS – I’m a Chatterbox, fourth in the Golden Rod, her only previous stakes try, jumped straight to the lead from post 1 under Florent Geroux and led her eight rivals in the $125,000 Silverbulletday Stakes on a merry chase.
Keen and slow to settle, I’m a Chatterbox set solid splits of 23.43 seconds and 47.93 but turned into the homestretch ready for more.
“I had a ton of horse,” Geroux said.
Indeed, he did, as I’m a Chatterbox pulled away the entire stretch run to win the Silverbulletday by eight lengths, a career-best showing in her first start for trainer Larry Jones.
Forever Unbridled won a slog for the place spot, edging pace-chasing Money’soncharlotte, with 2-1 second choice West Coast Belle not far back but still a somewhat-disappointing fourth.
Top Decile, the even-money favorite after second-place finishes in the Grad 1 Alcibiades Stakes and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile fillies, suffered a tough trip from a wide draw and was floated at least six paths wide by poor-cornering Queen’s Ready on the first turn. She never recovered, rallying mildly for sixth.
West Coast Belle was in a good spot but lacked the kick she showed winning the Golden Rod in her most recent start, taking her first loss in four races. Jockey Shaun Bridgmohan said West Coast Belle was a bit too eager early in the race.
I’m a Chatterbox was trained in her first three starts by Ken McPeek. Jones said he has long trained for owners Fletcher and Carolyn Gray, and I’m A Chatterbox joined his Fair Grounds barn shortly after her fourth-place finish in the Golden Rod. Jones said he made no major changes, and while the filly was doing all right all along, it was only in her last two works that she really began perking up. Geroux had been on her both times.
“She worked lights out,” he said.
On or near the lead in her first two races, I’m a Chatterbox she was away slowly in the Golden Rod and 10th of 12 down the backstretch before rallying, flattening out a bit but finishing fourth of 12. Breaking from the rail Saturday, she made the lead before the first turn, raced aggressively, Geroux said, but settled down somewhat on the backstretch. And evidently, I’m a Chatterbox had expended little energy at all, as she powered home an impressive winner. She ran one mile and 70 yards in 1:43.21 and paid $19.20 to win.
A homebred, I’m a Chatterbox is a daughter of Munnings and the Lost Soldier mare Chit Chatter. She won for the second time in four races and will be pointed to the Rachel Alexandra Stakes here Feb. 21, Jones said.