Oaks likely next for I'm a Chatterbox

Trainer Larry Jones, who swept the Rachel Alexandra Stakes exacta on Saturday, said Sunday that victorious I’m a Chatterbox is likely for the Fair Grounds Oaks on March 28, while plans are less certain for runner-up Lovely Maria.

Both fillies came out of the race well, Jones said, though Lovely Maria showed a little more fatigue than I’m a Chatterbox.

One possibility for Lovely Maria is the Ashland Stakes at Keeneland in April, though Jones and owner Brereton Jones are keeping their options open.

Bet Seattle fires best shot

Bet Seattle may be a 6-year-old gelding, but he has never run better than he did here in the Duncan Kenner on Saturday, blazing to an early lead over the fast gelding Delaunay and going on to a three-quarter-length victory. His time of 1:09.84 for six furlongs produced a career-best Beyer of 103.

Trainer Hugh Robertson said Bet Seattle appeared to have come out of the race, his 11th win from 28 career starts, in good shape, but Robertson has no plans for the gelding. The Kenner is the last dirt sprint stakes for older horses at this meet.

“I don’t have to make a plan, because I own the horse myself,” Robertson said.

Robertson not only owns him, he picked Bet Seattle out as a yearling in 2010, and what a find that was. The son of Seattle Fitz was purchased for just $1,500 and now has earned more than $400,000.