Stall vs. Jones in five-horse Spinster Stakes
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A longer race with a short field can be a cat-and-mouse game for the jockeys. If that’s what becomes of the Grade 1 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes on Sunday at Keeneland, well, Al Stall Jr. thinks he stands a pretty fair chance.
Then again, so does Larry Jones.
They’re the trainers of the top two contenders in a five-horse field set for the $500,000 Spinster, a Win and You’re In event toward the Nov. 4 Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Santa Anita.
Stall will give a leg up to Jose Ortiz on Paid Up Subscriber, while Jones again has given Florent Geroux the mount on I’m a Chatterbox. Both jockeys are enjoying breakthrough seasons: Entering the 17-day fall meet, Ortiz was second in wins (274) and mount earnings ($17.8 million) among all North American riders, while Geroux was second in graded stakes wins (23).
The Spinster is the third straight Grade 1 race in which I’m a Chatterbox and Paid Up Subscriber will meet. I’m a Chatterbox came out ahead in both the Delaware Handicap and Personal Ensign, but Stall is looking for Paid Up Subscriber to score when breaking from post 1 in this 61st running of the 1 1/8-mile Spinster.
“Hopefully, there’s an honest pace ahead of us, with one of those other fillies going out there with I’m a Chatterbox,” Stall said. “We’re just going to have Jose leave there running and do what he’s been doing all summer.”
Jones has confidence in both I’m a Chatterbox and Geroux, and why wouldn’t he? The 4-year-old filly has earned nearly $1.9 million from 15 starts, with Geroux aboard in 11 of her last 12. Moreover, I’m a Chatterbox (post 3) has shown the versatility to make the pace or sit chilly if needed.
“The good thing is it seems like she’s just gotten better as this year has gone on,” Jones said. “Her numbers have improved, and she’s gotten stronger.”
Genre (post 5), who will have the reigning three-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey Javier Castellano in from New York to ride, is the likely third choice in the Spinster. Castellano is cruising along through another banner season, leading all riders in mount earnings ($20.1 million) and graded stakes wins (26).
The field is rounded out by Engaginglee (post 4) and Miss Pink Diva (post 2), the one-two finishers in the Locust Grove last month at Churchill Downs.
All starters carry 124 pounds.
The Spinster frequently has a major impact on the Distaff, but with Songbird, Beholder, Stellar Wind, and a few other top fillies already committed to that race, that probably won’t be the case this year.
The Spinster is carded as the ninth of 10 races on a Sunday card that starts at 1:05 p.m. Eastern and otherwise is replete with big fields, including the Grade 3, $250,000 Dixiana Bourbon (race 8) for 2-year-old turf horses. The Bourbon and Spinster will be showcased on a live NBC Sports broadcast (5-6 p.m.). More terrific weather is in store, with a forecast of sunny skies and a high of 68.
After Sunday, Keeneland goes dark for two days before the first five-day week of the meet begins Wednesday. Unlike at some other tracks hosting Columbus Day cards, there is no racing here Monday.
KEY CONTENDERS
I’m a Chatterbox, by Munnings
Last 3 Beyers: 100-98-94
◗ A two-time Grade 1 winner (2015 Cotillion and 2016 Delaware Handicap) for owners and breeders Fletcher and Carolyn Gray of Missouri, this chestnut filly has been a major player in her division since early 2015, when she hit the radar screen by reeling off three straight stakes victories at Fair Grounds.
Paid Up Subscriber, by Candy Ride
Last 3 Beyers: 97-94-94
◗ Brought along methodically by Stall for the partnership of Seth Klaravich and William Lawrence, she notched her first stakes victory in the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis at Churchill in June before finishing second to I’m a Chatterbox in a controversial renewal of the Delaware Handicap.
Genre, by Bernardini
Last 3 Beyers: 92-91-88
◗ This handy bay filly will be going for her third straight win for trainer Todd Pletcher after winning the Grade 3 Molly Pitcher at Monmouth Park in late July and an ungraded stakes at Thistledown four weeks later.