Jones plots separate courses for I'm a Chatterbox, Cassatt

NEW ORLEANS – Larry Jones welcomed I’m a Chatterbox into his Fair Grounds barn late Tuesday night, the 3-year-old filly back in New Orleans after a brief post-Breeders’ Cup turnout at a Kentucky farm. Now, Jones will plot a course to keep I’m a Chatterbox separate from the other older-female stakes horse in the barn, Cassatt, who shipped to Remington and won the $102,300 She’s All In Stakes on Sunday.

Cassatt, who turns 5 on Jan. 1, is likely to make her next start in the $400,000 Sam Houston Ladies Classic, a race she won in 2015. Owner Rick Porter intends to race Cassatt through her entire 5-year-old season, Jones said, at least in part to try to knock out a Grade 1 win, something Cassatt, a daughter of Tapit, has yet to do.

“She’s never had what you’d call a really sound year yet, and the Tapits do good at 5, so we’re going to roll with that,” said Jones.

Cassatt set a strong pace and fended off stretch challengers to win the She’s All In by a neck, the effort producing an 82 Beyer Speed Figure.

Jones has his eye on a pair of two-turn, Grade 1 races early in 2016, the Apple Blossom at Oaklawn and the Santa Margarita at Santa Anita. If all goes well, I’m a Chatterbox and Cassatt might well wind up in those races, though Jones is leaving options open for who runs where.

I’m a Chatterbox didn’t have an ideal trip but, even accounting for luck, ran below her best form in finishing eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. But she still had an excellent year, taking down four stakes, including the Grade 1 Cotillion. I’m a Chatterbox also was disqualified from first to second in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks.

“She looks good, looks like she put on a little weight and came back very relaxed this morning,” Jones said. “We still don’t have to get in a hurry with her this winter. We’ll take our time.”

Jones also has Coup de Grace nearing a comeback race after what essentially has been a lost, three-start 4-year-old season. Coup de Grace hasn’t raced since July, and Jones believes the colt suffered an injury when he nearly fell after training one day at Keeneland in April. Coup de Grace raced with blinkers added in his three starts this year, but the blinkers will be gone when Coup de Grace returns, and Jones plans to bring the horse back in a two-turn race.