Next stop Breeders' Cup for Frosted, I'm a Chatterbox

Frosted and I’m a Chatterbox punched their tickets to the Breeders’ Cup on Saturday with their respective wins in the Pennsylvania Derby and Cotillion, the $1 million brother-sister races for 3-year-olds that highlight the season at Parx Racing.

Frosted was returning on three weeks’ rest following his courageous third-place finish in the Travers at Saratoga, a race in which he hooked American Pharoah on the lead for approximately five-sixteenths of a mile before flattening out late. He scored a relatively easy two-length victory in the 1 1/8-mile Pa. Derby under Joel Rosario.

Frosted shipped back to Saratoga on Saturday evening and came out of the race fine, according to his trainer, Karan McLaughlin.

Frosted earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 106. Frosted, a son of Tapit owned by Godolphin, will continue to train at Saratoga for the time being and be pointed to the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland on Oct. 31.

Even though Frosted appeared to come out of the Travers well, the short turnaround to the Pa. Derby was a concern for McLaughlin. Now he has time on his side.

“We had to come back quicker than my stable usually does,” he said. “But now we have six weeks to get him ready for the Breeders’ Cup.”

The Pennsylvania Derby was Frosted’s second major win of the year. He also won the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct in April. Since the Wood, he had finished fourth in the Kentucky Derby, second in the Belmont Stakes, second in the Jim Dandy, and third in the Travers.

Iron Fist ran a strong race to finish second to Frosted at Parx. He was eight lengths clear of third-place finisher Tommy Macho. Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer was pleased his effort Saturday.

“He ran well to finish second to a very nice horse,” Hollendorfer said. “I don’t have a next race picked out for him, but he won’t have any trouble transitioning against older horses.”

I’m a Chatterbox returned to Delaware Park after her two-length in the Grade 1 Cotillion. Trainer Larry Jones said she would be shipped to Keeneland next weekend to prepare for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

“She’s really maturing nicely,” Jones said. “We’re looking forward to having a good fall with her and the owners want to race her again next year at 4.”

Jones pointed out that I’m a Chatterbox has already shown she likes the Keeneland racing surface. She won her career debut there in October 2014.

“It’s nice to have this race behind us,” Jones said. “Now we have six weeks to practice and get ready for the Breeders’ Cup.”

I’m a Chatterbox was given a nice ride by Florent Geroux, who got her to the rail from post 7 before they reached the clubhouse turn of the 1 1/16-mile Cotillion.

I’m a Chatterbox is owned and was bred by Fletcher and Carolyn Gray of Missouri. It was important for them to win a Grade 1 with her, according to Jones, because they own I’m a Chatterbox’s mare, Chit Chatter, and bought back her yearling half-brother by The Factor out of the Keeneland sale Saturday.

Chit Chatter, a foal of 1999, won 4 of 23 starts and $120,000. I’m a Chatterbox has won the Cotillion, Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks, Grade 3 Rachel Alexandra, and Silverbulletday Stakes while earning $1.3 million.

In her three starts prior to the Cotillion, I’m a Chatterbox had finished second in the Grade 1 Alabama; been disqualified from first to second in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks, and finished third in the Kentucky Oaks.